Beverly Health Care in Foley
Recognizes Volunteers

     Nursing Home Administrator Tommy Herndon, Activities Assistant Ann Ray, Recreational Director Will Collins (standing l to r) and Director of Nursing Keith Humphreys (not shown) presided over the Foley Beverly Nursing Home's "Volunteer Appreciation Banquet" for 2005 at the VFW Dining Room in Elberta. Fifty plus residents and guests (seated throughout the dining area) enjoyed food and fellowship at the event.

     A host of volunteers at Foley's Beverly Health Care (aka "Foley Nursing Home") joined residents and staff of the nursing home facility on April 20 at the VFW Dining Room in Elberta for lunch and recognition. Opal Sisk and James Stallworth were presented with service plaques and a myriad of gifts were presented to volunteers, courtesy of local businesses supporting this community resource (Winn Dixie, Bebo's, Pizza Hut, Express Oil Change, Hunan Restaurant, Chick & Sea, Professional Auto, Bouquets and Baskets, Stacey's Drugs, You're Invited, Wright's Drugs, Olive Tree, Sweetie Pies, Pat Brantley, Gift Horse, Dr. Hightower, O'Charley's, Chick-Fil-A, Cici's Pizza, Ivy's, Stewed Tomatoes, Fire Mountain, Vallarta, Gulf Bowl, Beverly Health Care, Gospel Lighthouse, and Kirklands).

     Recreational Director Will Collins began the formal presentation portion of the event with, "Volunteers make it a lot better for the residents--and for us too." The staff recognized men and women for simple servant tasks that bring an enriched life to nursing home residents. People volunteer to do nails or beauty care or to sing with residents, to play bingo, to be a listener, or to be the needed "go-fer." Eighty volunteers supplement a staff of 150 in Foley's Beverly Health Care (one of two such facilities in Baldwin County). It is a 150 bed nursing home with 36 Alzheimer's beds.

     Activities Assistant Ann Ray noted that all kinds of volunteer help is needed, e.g., friendly visits, friendly listeners, Bible study teachers, discussion facilitators, and the like. If a person has any time available, she will be happy to talk about opportunities (943-2781 office; 989-2331 home). And "yes" to snowbirds--their help is appreciated too.

     Volunteers from several households of faith were present for the recognition festivities: Oyster Bay Baptist Church in Gulf Shores, St. Margaret's Catholic Church of Foley, and Zion Lutheran Church in beautiful Silverhill.