That festive flair
DEVIN WEEKS/Press Coeur d’Alene Health Care and Rehabilitation Center resident Evelyn Lee receives a gift from Santa Claus during a Christmas party Thursday afternoon. The party was gifted to the residents by Silver Angels for the Elderly, a senior advocacy group that works to keep seniors healthy and happy.
Santa asks a smiling Dorothy Nickel if she hails from Kansas during a Christmas party in the Coeur d'Alene Health and Rehabilitation Center on Thursday. The party, thrown by Silver Angels for the Elderly, included games, crafts, time with Santa, music and holiday treats. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)
John Maloney, a resident of Coeur d'Alene Health and Rehab, scopes out a table of trinkets and treasures with Silver Angels for the Elderly volunteer Stephanie Hunter during a holiday party Thursday. Maloney picked out a small stuffed Santa as his game prize. "It's kinda fun," he said with a grin. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
COEUR d’ALENE — After much deliberation, John Maloney chose a small stuffed Santa out of an array of prizes and brought it back to his table.
“It’s kind of fun,” he said with a grin.
In the corner of the Coeur d’Alene Health and Rehabilitation Center dining room, the real Santa Claus was taking photos with residents and listening to their requests.
Resident Evelyn Lee sat at a nearby table, soaking in the over-the-top festive flair of the Christmas party Thursday afternoon.
“Wow,” she said, smiling.
Volunteers from Silver Angels for the Elderly (S.A.F.E.) threw Coeur d’Alene Health and Rehab residents a cheerful Christmas party as their way of saying, “Merry Christmas” and, “We haven’t forgotten about you.”
"My heart is always for the lonely and the isolated seniors, and there’s so many of them in rehabs and nursing homes, assisted living," said Diane Zell, S.A.F.E. director. "Everybody that I’m blessed to have with us all have a heart for this."
About 10 volunteers in yuletide apparel — including Zell's friendly little dog Spiffy — visited with the residents as they played games, chatted with Santa and enjoyed holiday treats.
Volunteer Stephanie Hunter wore reindeer antlers as she assisted with the party. She said her neighbor is a member of S.A.F.E., so when she heard from her neighbor about the party, she jumped on the chance to help.
“I didn’t know that they had anything like (Coeur d’Alene Rehab) here," she said. "I think it’s awesome."
Wendy Hundley, activities director for the center, said she was overwhelmed by the heartfelt efforts of the Angels.
“I have never had this much help for a party,” she said. “The residents are pretty excited and they’re going to be talking about this for a long time."
The party was made possible by grant funding from Thrivent Financial, a membership organization of Christians that assists people with financial matters, as well as donations from the community.
S.A.F.E. is a grassroots group that works toward eliminating elder abuse while keeping seniors healthy and happy through small tokens of love and social interaction.
"Everybody needs lovin’, right?” Zell said.
Info: www.silverangelsfortheelderly.com