Sharing love through all seasons

A lot changed in the world in 2020 and though much has been restored, there is still restoration needed. For the safety of residents, public visitation was halted at nursing homes. For those residents who enjoy interaction, many are left waiting for visitors to return.

The ladies of Trinity Lutheran Church urge groups, organizations etc. to get involved in local nursing homes. On Nov. 17, Trinity Lutheran Church members decorated fake trees for the holiday miniature village they set up several weeks ago in the chapel of the Navasota Nursing and Rehab Facility in Navasota. The ladies host a tree workshop so residents can help build more trees to display in the village.

“The tree changes every season, so it keeps folks coming back to interact with residents,” said Branda Storey, one of the Trinity Lutheran Ladies.

“Our goal is to make normal, comfortable,” explained Storey. “Our nursing homes have folks that can still contribute to society, their own in-house community, etc.

Storey said the rehab portion of the nursing home has residents who will probably never leave the facility. “We are born surrounded by people and comfort,” she said. “Let us all get involved and allow the elderly and disabled in these homes to be surrounded with people and comfort as they leave this world.”

The easiest way to get involved is by reaching out to nursing homes said Storey. She said it is up to the people or organizations to coordinate the activities and request permission from the staff. She said it can be something as simple as bringing lunch and visiting with residents.

Storey said her next venture she is planning is to bring Christmas cards to the nursing home and have residents sign them to be delivered at VA clinics and hospitals for veterans.