As Wesley Village celebrates 50 years of superb senior care, our community reflects on its people. From our courageous patients and residents, their families, our employees, community members and our volunteers. Each person makes a significant difference in continuing a legacy of people caring for people.
“Not many people have the opportunity to have a tangible impact on someone else’s life, day in and day out. I am proud of the work that I do, to be able to serve our residents, and enjoy their positive energy every day,” said Benjamin Schiano, executive director of Wesley Heights.
To honor our organization’s anniversary, we had a campus wide celebration with a petting zoo, classic car display, live music, and delicious food samples from local restaurants.
The event was enjoyed by hundreds of people and gave our visitors a clear glimpse of what makes our community so special.
Staff members brought residents and guests on golf cart rides, so they had better opportunity to see the attractions and have the chance to participate in activities. There were over 350 people in attendance with ages ranging from a couple of months old to over 100-years-old.
The afternoon’s events ran from 2:00-4:00 p.m. It was a day that everyone enjoyed, especially the residents.
It’s easy to see the impact our community has on the people who live in it, but it’s especially rewarding to hear how it is from the residents’ perspective.
“I feel secure living here and everyone is so nice. Everyone says “Hello” and laughs. I don’t think you get many staff members like that at other places,” said Virginia Kristoff, resident at Crosby Commons.
The comradery between employees was obvious on the day of the event, with many spending the morning and late afternoon prepping the spaces for our entertainment and food, setting up and later taking down tables, chairs, and tents.
Dozens of employees helped residents in and out of their respected buildings, brought them to their seats to enjoy music and food, the classic cars, and petting zoo animals.
“It’s been a long time that we’ve been doing this work. There were just people caring for other people. It started in a church with people noticing that fellow church members needed some help and they went out of their way to help them. I think the folks who started this mission back in the 1800’s would be very proud of what we’re carrying forward today as an organization,” said President and CEO, David Lawlor.
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