Contact: Jackie De Haan |
18 W. Michigan Avenue |
GUARDIAN FINANCE AND ADVOCACY SERVICES |
May 2010
Flowers Brought a Message of Hope
They are not forgotten.
That was the message behind delivery of flowers to eighty ladies isolated in nursing homes and other care facilities. It was Guardian Finance and Advocacy Service’s second year of this Mother’s Day outreach.
One of the ladies could only speak Hungarian. When she received the plant she kissed it, held it to her chest and rolled around the facility in her wheelchair to show everyone.
Another lady, a retired university professor, is now blind, deaf and unable to speak. “We placed the floweron the table in front of her and took her hand so she could sense what it was. Then her chin quivered and she took our hands in hers and gave us a big hug,” said Pat Fosdick, coordinator of the outreach effort.
Each lady received a wrapped, potted gerbera flower pot that included greetings for the holiday. Horrocks Farm Market supplied the flowers.
“It is amazing what a gift of flowers means to these ladies. Typically they are bypassed by mainstream society and have few visitors.” said Pat Fosdick, coordinator of the event. Many suffer from dementia or other incapacitating problems.
Leila Arboretum volunteers, who wrapped and delivered, also reported how their hearts were touched by the experience. Likewise, staff members at nursing homes were pleased. “The lives of these special women were brightened triple fold today,” reported Lori Baker at The Battle Creek Manor.
“Last year we were so overwhelmed by the response and the pure joy of doing this work that we decided to make it an annual effort,” said Jackie De Haan, CEO of the nonprofit.
Many, but not all of the recipients are clients of Guardian.
Flowers were delivered in both Calhoun and Kalamazoo Counties, areas served by Guardian.
Donors contributed $20 per plant and were invited to include a card honoring their own mother or special person in their life. “Both my mother and my mother-in-law are deceased; this was a way to honor them on Mother’s Day. I know they would be proud,” said one donor who asked to be anonymous.
Bachman Hebble Funeral Service, Horrocks, Langland Family Funeral Home and Parkshore Associates were corporate sponsors.
“Safeguarding At-Risk Adults,” Guardian helps adults who need assistance managing their daily affairs. Their services include representative payee for Social Security and VA benefits, power of attorney and personal representative, and managing trusts. They also serve as court appointed guardians and conservators. One of their best-known programs, Financial Stress Buster, helps seniors who have difficulty keeping their checkbook balanced and bills organized.
With forty-four years of trusted service, the nonprofit helps people in Calhoun, Kalamazoo and surrounding counties. More information about Guardian is available at their web site www.yourguardian.org.