Woodstone Senior Living started a doing volunteer projects as a way to give back to the community as they give some much time volunteering to our residents.
Many of the residents are very appreciative each time we have volunteers come into the building to do Music Therapy all the way to Church Services. How could we make a difference, how could we show our appreciation to everyone for their time?
So as we had these discussions, our Community Life Coordinator, Ericka Smith, thought about how could she make this work for the residents – a way to show these volunteers that we are so thankful for everything they do?
Each month we have a series of volunteer projects that the residents help out with.
Last week we did a volunteer project, which was making a tie blanket for our local Hospice Organization and we will be doing some for Common Cup. The residents put a lot of hard work into this project as well as felt it was a great way to give back to families in need.
Today we donated our first blanket to the Allina Health Home Care Services. Pam Ainslie is the Volunteer Coordinator that accepted the blanket with us today. She was honored that we did this for our local hospice patients. She gave us some great ideas for future projects and cannot wait to partner up with Woodstone.
Some of the volunteer projects we have worked on so far and that will be coming up are; Cat toys for the Heart of MN Animal Shelter, which provide us with our monthly pet therapy, Dog treats for the Heart of MN Animal Shelter and Pet Therapy TDI Chapter 252, who also provide us with pet therapy, homemade play dough for Kings Kids preschool, who will be planning many activities with the residents and children during the school year, making tie blankets for our local Common Cup and Hospice Organizations.
By doing these types of projects, our residents could provide comfort to those who are going through a difficult time, or simply lending a helping hand where needed. After all, age is just a number!
Soon, we will begin working with the Hutchinson and Dassel-Cokato School districts in helping cutting and sorting box and milk tops, since these provide the schools with money that comes back to them and the more they do the more money and supplies they can get for the classrooms.
Our resident Teri says, “I enjoy them. It’s a way to share our talents with a purpose to get to know other residents better.” She also said, ” It’s an opportunity for us to share a part of ourselves that makes us feel good in our own way.”
