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Christmas at Asbury Place:
Remembering the Forgotten
By Annette Bender
The food looks yummy, and many of the residents are wearing their Santa sweaters and neckties for the occasion.
Here in this particular dining room, there's no shortage of visitors for Christmas Open House at Asbury Place at Wytheville. Every senior citizen seems to have someone to chat with over punch and cookies.
But in other Asbury rooms and on other days, some of the residents don't have anyone to visit them, according to staff members. They don't have anyone to bring them Christmas gifts or treats.
"I'm sure it's very lonely for those people," says Angel Campbell, director of life enrichment for Asbury Place at Kingsport's Steadman Hill campus.
"They have the other residents, sure. But there should be someone to make up for the lost hugs and kisses that don't come from family members."
That's where Asbury employees and church volunteers come in.
In each of the four retirement communities comprising Asbury Inc. - a Holston Conference-related agency - parties are planned and gifts are wrapped to ensure that everyone is remembered at Christmas.
While staff members are sometimes surprised that more Holston churches don't participate, they can count on a few United Methodist congregations and volunteers from other denominations to remember the residents who might otherwise be forgotten.
At Asbury Place at Wytheville, for instance, the life enrichment staff recently identified 42 residents (out of 243) without support from family or friends. The staff created a "wish list" for each person, says Glen Heatwole, vice president of operations. Then staff and visitors were invited to "pick a star" from a Christmas tree - with each star representing a gift idea for an anonymous resident.
The recipients of the gifts range from the 65-year-old mentally challenged man, who has been at Asbury for 12 years, to a woman in her late 80s, who arrived in late October.
The mentally challenged man first came to Asbury with his mother, who has since died, explains Donna Lawson, Wytheville director of life enrichment for the health center.
"I guess he's special to us because he's been with us for so long," says Lawson. "He rarely has visitors." Because he loves music, the staff placed CDs on his wish list, as well as musical toys, stuffed animals, and clothes.
"As long as it's upbeat, he loves it," Lawson says, describing his choice of music.
When the woman in her late 80s first arrived at Asbury, she was very fearful, Lawson says. "Sometimes they hear bad things [about retirement homes] before they come. But then she started letting us get close to her, and now you see her smiling all the time. It's special to see that smile."
The staff placed the woman on the Christmas list because she only has a few friends, no family. "We noticed she likes bright colors, so we put bright-colored sweat suits on her wish list," says Lawson.
Special for all
As soon as the 42 red stars containing gift suggestions were placed on the white Christmas tree, 30 stars were snatched up by a local Pentecostal church, says Lawson. The United Methodist Women of St. Paul United Methodist Church took many of the remaining stars.
St. Paul's United Methodist Women are among the biggest supporters of the Wytheville retirement community, providing gifts and visits as well as birthday parties on a monthly basis, says Lawson. "Wouldn't that be nice, if other churches also came in and did that?" (See "All I Want for Christmas.")
Asbury Place at Maryville is blessed with a few dedicated United Methodist congregations that remember residents all year long, according to Kathi Parkins, director of life enrichment.
At the Maryville-based retirement community, a team of employees works year-round to raise money and provide gifts for all 175 residents.
"That way, no one gets singled out as a charity case," explains Parkins. "We don't even know if the residents realize the gifts come from the employees. We just want Christmas to be special for all."
This year, the team raised $4,000 through bake sales, silent auctions, jewelry sales and candle sales. Residents were interviewed to discern the best possible gifts. Employees buy the gifts, then church volunteers come in late at night to wrap them in time for Christmas parties on each unit. Other congregations - Wears Valley UMC, Broadway UMC - have donated stocking stuffers, Parkins said.
At Asbury Place at Johnson City, a local Church of Christ congregation recently brought homemade lap quilts for 15 residents. A Freewill Baptist church is contributing 60 Christmas gift bags including lotion, socks, and body wash, according to Chris Hughes, director of life enrichment services and chaplain.
Munsey Memorial UMC recently brought in 200 apples for both staff and residents. First Johnson City UMC also contributes volunteers and gifts for residents on a frequent basis, Hughes reports. Asbury at Johnson City has about 190 total residents.
Ministry opportunities
Asbury Place at Kingsport has two campuses. At Baysmont, the focus is on providing gifts for needy children of Asbury employees, according to Leigh Sboukis, director of social services and activities.
"Many of our employees bring in the only income in their families, and that income is small," Sboukis explains. "A few years ago, we had a brainstorm and decided to do an angel tree for the children of some of our employees."
This year, 13 children will receive gifts from employees, residents and visitors.
Baysmont has struggled with finding United Methodist congregations to volunteer for its 171 total residents, according to Sboukis. Meanwhile, at the Steadman Hill campus, United Methodist Women from Cassidy UMC and First Broad Street UMC provide fellowship time (Bible study, music, refreshments) every third Thursday of the month, says Campbell.
This Christmas, a local Baptist church gave out candy canes and tissues and sang Christmas carols for Steadman Hill's 36 residents. A Pentecostal congregation provided Christmas treat bags and sang, too.
Yet, Campbell, like all of Asbury's life enrichment directors, is hungry for the helping hands and loving hearts of United Methodist volunteers.
"All I want is their time," says Campbell. "If everyone could just pitch in with an hour or two each month, it would make a big difference. They'll see - the residents are so appreciative."
For more information about Asbury Inc., visit www.asburyplace.org.
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All I want
for Christmas
Not just at Christmas, but all year long, the Asbury communities have needs that Holston congregations can fulfill:
Asbury Place at Johnson City
Church members are needed to provide sacred music one Sunday morning each quarter, as well as to visit, read to or do craft projects with residents. Individuals are invited to bring in (well-behaved, well-trained) animals for a "pet therapy" project at the facility. Congregations are also requested to help provide birthday or holiday parties for residents. Contact: Chris Hughes at (423) 975-2000.
Asbury Place at Kingsport
At the Baysmont campus, volunteers are needed to teach Bible study on a regular basis. Contact: Leigh Sboukis at (423) 245-0360. At the Steadman Hill campus, volunteers are needed to read to residents, help with bingo games or craft projects, or help with decorating. Contact: Angel Campbell (423) 245-1067.
Asbury Place at Maryville
Churches are requested to donate seasonal decorations, bingo prizes, cooking supplies, games and puzzles. Also needed are volunteers to visit or read to residents, play the piano, or share other talents. Small groups are invited to provide monthly birthday parties. Contact: Kathi Parkins at (423) 984-1660, ext. 3003.
Asbury Place at Wytheville
Volunteers are invited to send greeting cards to residents or donate unused greeting cards for residents to use. Games, puzzles and craft supplies are requested. Also, church groups are invited to provide parties or picnics for residents. Contact: Donna Lawson at (276) 228-5595, ext. 340.
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