From Carl Ginder, Vice President of Strategic Development

Two things that impressed me were 1. The incredibly efficient system of cleaning off residents’ cars and 2. The fact that the kitchen staff served meals to stay-over staff while still serving all the residents despite staff shortages.

1. Apartment residents’ car keys are kept on a giant key ring in the order in which cars are parked in the lot.  This way staff and volunteers can go from car to car, start the engine, clean the snow off the car, back it out of the parking spot, clean off and salt the parking lot and move the cars back into their original spot.  In a relatively short time, but with considerable effort, cars and parking lots are snow free and safe to traverse.

Tim Zimmerman moves a car

2. Although I never heard an exact count, there were perhaps 75 staff members who stayed over one or two nights in order to ensure that we would be able to adequately provide service to residents and to clear away the snow.  Those who stayed were promised that they would not go hungry.  The kitchen staff provided tasty, nutritious meals to all the “extras” even when some of their own staff couldn’t make it to work.

It’s great to work with people who are dedicated, not to their jobs, but to the people who are counting on them.  There was no grumbling.  There was a spirit of “let’s find a way to enjoy what we need to do.”

Dave Lehman and a resident compare snow attire

From Pastor Terry Rose, Director of Pastoral Ministries

I spent two nights sleeping on a mattress in my office.  I heard my mini refrigerator turning on and off as well as the hum of my computer.  I laid there telling myself, “You can do this!  Just think of the people in Haiti who are grieving the loss of loved ones and have no shelter, no food, no water and sleeping under the stars.”  This helped me to put things into perspective quite quickly.

The first day I helped make sleep over bags in laundry as well as match socks.   Since I was not here for the first snow storm, I do remember an e-mail asking for available staff to help clean off residents’ cars.  So, for the second snow storm, I came prepared with warm clothes and shovel and broom.  Therefore, the second day I helped clean off cars in front of Tuscarora and individual cars of those who live in the cottages.

From Lori White, Registered Nurse Assessment Coordinator (RNAC)

I was able to spend two nights with a long time friend of mine in Assisted Living and got a taste of what it’s like to live at Messiah Village when a nurse came creeping in at 2 A.M. to make sure there was a body in the room.  I think she was a little surprised to find two bodies; one on the sofa and one in bed.  I was able to revisit some aspects of my past experiences here at the Village from that of a caregiver, (feeding residents), to a floor nurse passing meds, and even squeezed in a little of my own current job as RNAC.  It was quite an experience, but I was very proud to be part of a team who kept their spirits up and worked together to keep things as normal as possible for the residents.