Gifts from the Heart of the Community

by Joan Smith

If we peek inside the gifts, we'll see some of the Christmas bags are filled with fresh fruit - while other gift-bags contain personal items; nonetheless, these gifts are filled with love from the heart of the community.

Most givers choose to remain silent and in the background. But one thing is for sure – each contributor helps to make life just a little easier for a whole lot of senior citizens.

{sidebar id=1}Sherri Hood, 4-H Extension Agent, reports this is the fifth year for the Wakulla 4-H Holiday Community Service Project. The week before Christmas, club members gathered at the Extension Office Arena to fill their selected Christmas bags with fruit.

“The kids look forward to this event every year,” said Wanda Murray, 4-H volunteer for 6 years. This year the Mid-Florida Citrus Foundation provided fresh citrus. Local participants donated items, and funds made available through the Chevron Corporation, 4-H Community Pride Grant, helped the the club to purchase apples from local vendors. The Christmas bags prepared by the club members were a welcome treat, delivered into the homes of our senior community.

It is a true joy to make these home visits and to hear the different stories. One of the major goals of the senior center is to offer community services to help adults remain independent and at home. We find these services are especially needed by those who may be experiencing visual challenges which limit their ability to do small tasks.

While visiting Lennie Widman in his home, he frequently shared words of humor intermixed with words of encouragement. During the light humorous conversations with Lennie, it showed how he enjoys his independence and being near his friends and neighbors. Lennie moved into the Wakulla area about thirty years ago from Rhode Island, New York. Through the years, Lennie learned to adjust to his surroundings and to concentrate on doing the tasks that he can do. He appreciates the senior center's homemaker services because they take care of those other tasks. The senior services helps to release Lennie so he can utilize his favorite past time – which is communicating with friends through his skills as a certified ham radio operator.

Another remarkable story comes from Mrs. Bennie Mae Miller and her daughters and caregivers, Lillian Miller and Betty Miller. Lillian said she cried the morning she received the call from Dee Bastian, Lead Case Manager for senior homebound services. The call came while she was sitting in her mother’s living room. Earlier that morning, Lillian was so tired she could hardly move. Even though she alternated every two weeks with her sister, she found the moment by moment demands plus the demands of her personal life had left her feeling exhausted. Lillian explained that this was one of those days; she was simply at wits end, then Dee (from the Senior Center) called with the good news that her mother was approved for sitter services. Lillian said she could not hold back the tears of joy. The sitter services help to provide caregivers an opportunity to relax, and a few hours to take care of personal things. According to the Miller household - receiving senior services definitely came at the right time for them.

Lennie Widman and Mrs. Bennie Mae Miller opened their homes, and they graciously shared a small portion of their story. The interviewer became the receiver. The occupants of each home warmly offered their deep inner spiritual faith and displayed how this faith binds their families and friends together with love. Perhaps that's why love is the best gift received from the heart of the community.

This article originally published on December 14, 2008.

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