Issue 40.13
At BeeHive Cottages we consider our residents to be living treasures who enrich our community. Our seniors’ wisdom, talents and experience are largely untapped riches waiting to be embraced and brought to life helping others. Through our community service projects, residents are combining their lifetime of experiences and wealth of knowledge to make a difference in improving our Community.
Volunteering not only gives everyone an opportunity to help others in need, but also provides a natural sense of accomplishment and a positive impact on our own health and vitality. Many of our residents developed a renewed sense of pride and a more optimistic view of life. Helping others kindles happiness!
When it comes to volunteering — compassion, a positive attitude, and a willingness to do whatever is needed — are the only requirements. Anyone can get involved regardless of age, wealth, or even mobility!
Throughout the past four years, our residents have created coloring books for the children living in our local shelters, visited local seniors in Assisted Living Homes, made scarves for the children at our nearby Head Start Program, volunteered for the Festival of Trees Celebration, wrote letters to our Servicemen oversees in combat, and collected donations for Dixie Care and Share. In December 2011, our entire BeeHive Cottages Community purchased Christmas presents and Christmas dinner for a local single mother who had fallen on hard times and would not have otherwise celebrated the Holiday with her children. This fall season we are crafting lap blankets for residents of our local Nursing Homes, making cat toys for one of the Animal Shelters, and creating Christmas Cards to send to the brave men and women serving our Country in Afghanistan.
One of our residents, Alma Boyce, has been volunteering as a Cub Scout Troop Leader for many years, in addition to volunteering for her Church projects, for the Red Cross, and our BeeHive community projects. When I asked Alma what volunteering means to her, she remarked — “I am part of the human race. A race is something you run & it is not over until you cross the finish line. I want to cross the finish line doing something for someone else!” Alma has definitely found meaning and a sense of purpose in her Golden Years.
When I watch our residents at work, I am often reminded of the quotation – “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” (Sir Winston Churchill)
Our BeeHive Cottages residents recognize that it is never too late to give back and make a difference!