Nursing home residents are typically characterized by how much help they need. But those wisened individuals also like to offer help when they can.
Two New Hampshire nursing home residents recently led an effort to help the victims of a Midwestern tornado outbreak get back on their feet, one fundraiser at a time. Storms ravaged the Midwest Dec. 10 and 11, beginning in Arkansas before hitting Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee and Kentucky and killing at least 88 people.
Mary Power and Mimi Cadma, residents at Mountain View Community, a county-owned nursing home in Ossipee, NH, teamed up to help impacted nursing homes. They approached their facility’s recreation director with a “specific desire to help those nursing homes.”
The duo began fundraising for the Red Cross by collecting clothes. They sold “Candy Grams” for Valentine’s Day. They also hosted a Super Bowl squares fundraiser for the big game.
In late February, they presented the Red Cross with a $1,000 check.
“The message we want to get out to the community is simple: There is still life in a nursing home,” facility leaders said. “Residents living in a nursing home are still active members of the larger community and are capable of reaching out and doing amazing things.”
