Morning Pointe Senior Living campuses across the Southeast will celebrate National Volunteer Week, April 21-27.
“Volunteers contribute so much to the social, spiritual and intellectual lives of our residents,” said Amanda Yelenick, Morning Pointe’s vice president of life enrichment. “Morning Pointe teams have been emphasizing recruiting volunteers this year, striving to have as many regular volunteers as they have residents in each community, and we’ve been seeing some wonderful individuals and groups share their talents and time with our residents. We are excited to recognize our volunteers’ impact in a special way this week.”
Volunteers offer a wide variety of talents and programming at Morning Pointe communities. These include performing music, visiting one on one with residents, playing games, assisting with crafts, calling bingo and more. Morning Pointe currently has more than 1,500 volunteers across its 38 communities.
Some of Our Stellar Volunteers
At Morning Pointe of Knoxville, Tennessee, Assisted Living, volunteer Mary Boyd leads weekly Bible studies and gets more out of her experience than she expected. “When I first agreed to do this, I thought I’d be doing a community service,” Boyd shared. “But what I’ve discovered is that it brings me such great joy to meet with these people who are so wise and so funny and so generous.”
Down the road at Morning Pointe of Hixson, Tennessee, Assisted Living and Memory Care, Boots and Buckle is a line dancing group of seniors who have been performing monthly at the community for more than a year. “They are fun, caring and put 100 percent of their energy into every dance they perform,” said Ashley Kilgore, Lantern program director. “Our residents absolutely love watching them.” The group usually gives a themed performance, such as love songs for Valentine’s Day or Irish songs for St. Patrick’s Day.
At The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence in Collegedale, Tennessee, Nancy Michel brings her dog Lucy to visit each week for some pet therapy. She not only brings Lucy to the living area but into resident rooms if they are interested, and residents love petting Lucy and reminiscing about past dogs. “Nancy stops and builds relationships with the residents above just having them pet Lucy,” said Kelly Nichols, Lantern program director. “She has been a wonderful addition to our volunteer crew.” Michel and Lucy also visit other local Morning Pointe communities.
In Kentucky, teenager Cambria Milliner finds enjoyment volunteering at Morning Pointe of Louisville with different activities. She even brings in her pet ferret sometimes! “The perks of volunteering are making memories and having fun, getting to play games with the residents and reading books or cooking or whatever it is,” Milliner said. “I just love having time with them. It makes my day, and I hope it makes their day too.”
Fellow volunteer at Morning Pointe of Louisville, Elisa Santiago, has a different reason for volunteering. “I started volunteering at Morning Pointe in memory of my mom, who has passed away and had dementia. Volunteering has helped me heal, and in doing so, I have developed great bonds with the residents. I look forward to volunteering and helping at Morning Pointe.”
Blind singer and pianist Harley Cannon enjoys volunteering at The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer’s Center of Excellence in Lexington, Kentucky. “The most fulfilling aspect of it to me is when they are able to respond to what I do. When they sing along, it’s very special because I know that’s a part of their brain that is free. I am very excited that I am able to bring a blessing to them.”
Opportunities to Volunteer
Of course, there are many other volunteers at each community, and there is always room for more.
“Volunteers are the cornerstone of community at our assisted living and memory care campuses,” said Greg A. Vital, Morning Pointe co-founder and president. “Their dedication and heartfelt generosity profoundly enhance the lives of our residents, connecting them more deeply with the world. We are immensely grateful for their ongoing contributions and the joy they bring into our community every day.”
Please contact your local Morning Pointe community to see how it is recognizing Volunteer Week. If you are interested in volunteering, please visit morningpointe.com/volunteer.
Founded in 1997 by Tennessee healthcare entrepreneurs Greg A. Vital and Franklin Farrow, Morning Pointe Senior Living owns and operates 38 assisted living, personal care and Alzheimer’s memory care communities in five southeastern states.
