God Cares: Legacy Picnic Celebrates Seniors in Westlake

Activities Directors from participating Senior Living Centers included Tammy Danilovic (Normandy Care Cen-ter), Tina Redcliff (Mount Alverna Center), Debbie Wilson (Rae Ann Suburban), Greta Haenisch (Wesleyan Village), Pam Nickelson (Manor Care North Olmsted), Leslie Barton (Sunrise of Rocky River), Dianne Kilroy (Eliza Jennings Rocky River), Bev Spielberger (Life Care Centers of Westlake), Michelle Fittro (Joshua Tree) and Janet Compton (Welsh Home).

St. Paul Lutheran Church in Westlake was home to the 16th Annual Legacy Picnic hosted by the God Cares Ministry on Friday, July 28.

God Cares Ministry is a nursing home ministry that recruits, trains and equips Christian volunteers to share the love and word of God with those residing in nursing homes.

“These volunteers provide friendship to the residents, and let them know that ‘Jesus loves them, and we do, too!’” said Chaplain Bill Goodrich, President and Founder of the Ministry.

Volunteers serve in many ways – by sharing their talents of music or speaking during a group bible study or church service; by helping to gather and greet residents for services; or providing one-to-one visits with those who are bed-bound, reports Goodrich.

“If someone has a heart for the elderly and would like to get involved, please have them visit our website at www.GodCaresMinistry.com or call our office at (440) 930-2173. We would love to help them get started in volunteering in this much needed ministry,” he adds. Their office is located at 515 Moore Road in Avon Lake.

By giving of a little over an hour of your time a week, you can change a life and provide hope, love and friendship in another’s time of need.

The Legacy Picnic is an annual event to provide some fellowship and fun for residents from a dozen or so area nursing homes. It was a vision of The John R. Palffy Family, a dedicated family of volunteers wanting to “leave a legacy.”