Can you imagine what it’s like to be 85, living in a Senior Healthcare facility and have no family?

 

 

 

Contact:

Patricia Gallagher – BA, MBA

Cell: 267 939 0365

 storiesforseniors@gmail.com

 

MISSION STATEMENT:

The Stories for Seniors Project distributes new and gently-used stuffed animals and lap blankets such as crocheted, knitted and quilted afghans and fleece throw blankets to offer care and comfort to Seniors living in nursing homes,  AIDS Hospices, retirement communities, Veterans Hospitals, shelters, cancer support groups, life recovery groups and other places where people need hope, comfort and encouragement. Also, small items that bring joy such as tissue paper corsages, bubbles, pinwheels and small Dollar Store type items. Items that might just make people forget their problems for a little while.  Sometimes it is just the little things that can brighten a person’s day.

 www.storiesforseniors.wordpress.com

 

 

 

 For quite some time, I have been visiting  people residing in a variety of senior living communities.  We  give each resident  their choice of a cozy lap blanket, a small gift from the Dollar Store  or a new or very gently used stuffed animal.

Many of the seniors are in wheelchairs, with big wheels, metal sides and brakes, far removed from the way they used to get around.

If we put ourselves in their shoes for a moment, what would it mean if someone brought in a beautiful, soft blanket  that could lay across our lap? Or a stuffed animal, such as an adorable white fluffy poodle, that reminded  the residents of  a forsaken long- time companion?

Not really for warmth but for comfort, a symbol of a spirit of giving. The blankets and stuffed animals, perhaps, are an inventive way to say thanks to the Vets for their service, maybe even an expression of Thanksgiving.

And a small gift for the other Seniors who feel sad and alone. What kind of gift would they like?

Maybe a little gift of note paper, a pack of gum, a bag of  hard candy, some hand lotion or something that  you may  have in a bureau drawer that you would like to “re-gift.”

 Something small that you no longer need but can be given away to put a smile on another person’s face.

Some of these wonderful seniors are confused at times, and may be thinking of the old days when they were opening a can of tomatoes to prepare a meal for their family or singing heartily in their church choir.

How wonderful a soft stuffed animal and blanket is to cuddle with!

 

AND I OFFER A FUN ONE HOUR PROGRAM THAT ACCOMPANIES THE STUFFED ANIMAL DISTRIBUTION.  Interactive, joyful, fun  and colorful!

http://storiesforseniors.wordpress.com/inspirational-and-fun-programs-offered/

Please call or email to share ideas. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you!

Contact:

Patricia Gallagher, BA, MBA

storiesforseniors@gmail.com

www.storiesforseniors.wordpress.com

Director of  the Stories for Seniors Project

Cell: 267 939 0365

Please call or email before collecting items so we can share our current needs. Lap blankets – approximately 5′ by 5′ or less.

 

http://www.midchix.com/2011/01/05/patricia-gallagher/

www.patriciausa.com

 

The Girl Scouts made 3 bags full of tissue flowers!

Hi!   Just a quick note to let you know that our Girl Scout service event yesterday was a huge success!!!!…and , and at least we have 3 bags full of tissue flowers100 stuffed animals to bring to you…though it’s likely much more than that (I’ve not seen the full ‘load’ yet, but our troop leaders has 2 garage bays full of the 5 collections that we took in…much of it is for YOU!     At our next meeting, we are planning on having our 13 girls go through the stuffed animals, make sure they are good to go, and we’ll get a better count for you then (and take a group shot)…then I’ll contact you and pick a date / time for me to bring them up to you.   They loved your project, and are so happy to be able to support you this way…WOOHOO!   More soon! Kristen

I finally dropped off the stuffed animals at your door today.

Hi Patricia,

I finally dropped off the stuffed animals at your door today. I hope they stay dry in the rain! Thank you for accepting them. I have been looking at your website again, and wondering if there was any other way to help. I am very active in my church, among the things I am involved in, I run the youth group. I thought maybe I could have my kids collect more stuffed animals for you, or make the tissue paper corsages you spoke of, or maybe collect other things? If you are interested, please let me know, I’m sure you have guidelines. Also, I am not directly involved, but our church  has a needleworkers group that I know do a lot of knitting and crocheting items for local hospices, homes, etc. If you have guidelines for those kinds of items, I could see if our group would be interested/able to make items for you. I think what you are doing is wonderful.

 

Sincerely,

Karin

Lap blankets?

Patricia Gallagher:

Do you need any lap blankets?

Alfreda

 

Hi Alfreda,

Yes, we can always use clean, new and nearly new lap blankets. The residents love them. Thanks so much.

More Stuffed animals coming, then enroute to senior living communities

Hi Patricia!

We spoke on the phone back in late Fall after I saw an article about your efforts in The Reporter. I just wanted to follow up and let you know that I am going to be doing a collection this Saturday to, hopefully, gather some more new and gently-used stuffed animals for your Stories for Seniors program.  I did a blog post about the program recently, too, which you can find here: http://northpennunderten.blogspot.com/2011/12/special-assignment-awaits-your-kids.html

Can you let me know when a good time would be for me to drop off the animals I collect Saturday? I can drop them off one day next week if that works for you.

 

Talk to you soon!

Jake and the Power of a Stuffed Animal to Bring Joy

A few months ago, a mom called and asked if I would like her son to collect stuffed animals for seniors. Jake is a 7th grader from Bucks County. For his Bar Mitzvah project, he contacted family and friends and asked for their assistance. He sent an email out to everybody that he thought would like to help and also posted flyers at the gym.

His mom was excited to tell me that he had collected 100 stuffed animals and about 15 blankets. And, that the family would like to accompany me, on Christmas Eve to deliver the canine creatures to a nursing home in Philadelphia.

We arrived at about the same time and it sure looked like a lot more than 100 stuffed animals. When they actually counted them, they had 413 stuffed animals. And these were not any just plain old run-0f-the- mill stuffed animals – these were big, cuddly and so soft. It looked like they had 13 trash bags filled to overflowing. Pups, horses and all kinds of paws that reminded the residents of a former pet.

I know that they are a very close-knit family because Jake told me that his aunts helped out a lot with his project.

We walked in together and started passing them out in the breakfast area. These two adorable children were so sweet and kind. No nervousness, no fear of the new faces staring at them. Just two happy-go-lucky kids on a mission to bring joy with bags of shiny black fur, floppy ears, and black button noses.

As some residents held the stuffed animals, we knew it was love at first sight. We saw a few mile-wide smiles and smothering kisses.

Jake and Emmie knew intuitively who needed attention and just what kind of attention they needed. Jake smiled and the little sister watched her big brother and did the same. I guess we passed out about 50 stuffed animals in the activity areas and then the director told us about the many people who could not get out of their beds. The mom, dad and two youngsters went from room-to-room bringing joy to the bed-bound residents. Probably another 50 more.

Hi Staci, Lennie, Jake and Emmie,

Oh what a wonderful experience it was to have all of you with me on Christmas Eve. I couldn’t believe all of the bags of stuffed animals – all in absolutely perfect condition. Brand new, practically and all of the beautiful blankets, too. I just loved watching Jake and Emmie interact so lovingly with everyone. The tenderness that they showed to each resident was so beautiful to watch. Your children are so loved by you…and they know how to show love to others. I am so grateful for your help with the project and so happy that you came with me. Please come anytime! I know that all of your visits to the rooms just put smiles on the faces of the lonely people. You are the best!!!! I am wishing you a very happy holiday and a wonderful New Year!

With gratitude and admiration,

Trisha

Dear Trisha,

Thank you for such beautiful sentiments, Trisha! We all had a wonderful experience with you and the residents! We have been talking about it all weekend, and Jake called his grandparents that day to tell him about his day. Thank you for the opportunity.

Staci

Have a happy and healthy new year as well!

Dear Staci,

Your family is just so wonderful. Watching your sweet and beautiful children just warmed my heart. They are truly beautiful, inside and out. A credit to you and their grandparents. How about when Jake stood in the front by himself and told about his project and introduced you? And how his sweet little Emmie watched him and followed his lead – both smiling for two hours – they sure brought sunshine into that place!!!!! Loved having you with me and watching the kids do their magic!

I think that we all had a sense of fulfillment on Christmas Eve. I loved the lesson that this mom and dad were teaching their children – about acts of service. As I looked around at the residents, I wondered: Who is lonely, homesick, and too shy to socialize? Who wants to go home to a family? And who is wondering if it was a mistake to come to live here?

Emmie and Jake spoke soothingly and softly. I think that the minds of the residents drifted back to happier days.

 

They wouldn’t give the flags back

Kristen and her kids get together regularly with some friends from church. They sort of trade babysitting so the parents can go out for a “date.” When she has a houseful of kids, she does an activity with them. Lucky for me, they have sort of adopted the Stories for Seniors Programs. They have made dozens of beautiful tissue paper flowers and last month they delivered decorated white bags. It looks like they went to a craft store and bought white lunch bags, markers, glitter and all kinds of foam shapes. They decorated the bags with bright colors and designs and wrote messages on the bags. Merry Christmas, Have a Nice Day and God Loves You.

Kristen’s husband is a military guy and in the past she has provided me with little American flags. I use them because we open our program with the Pledge of Allegiance and I play a video of Celine Dion singing God Bless America. We then thank all of the men and women who have ever served in the United States Armed Services. And we thank all of the family members who have waited, worried and prayed back on the homefront.

So along with the decorated bags and the note cards that said FAITH, HOPE, FAMILY AND LOVE, she brought me a new supply of little flags. And I needed them. Why? Because they seem to disappear. The folks like holding them just as they did when they were in grade school. When you were the special kid who got to stand in the front of the room, holding the flag…….and now they all are the special kids holding Kristen’s little flags…but when I go to collect them, they don’t want to give them up!

People in their 80′s want to take the flags back to their rooms. So, Kristen brought me 24 more.

I asked each resident to tell me what the note card message meant to them: Faith, Hope, Love, Family.

One lady said, I got the cards that say FAMILY. What that means to me is that I no longer have any family. We used to have great times. I had a big basement with a fireplace. I used to cook and we would have big parties. So many cousins and aunts and uncles and neighborhood people, too. They are all gone now.

So, what can you say? Oh, you can’t have the flag. I need it for my next program.

Of course not…….they love the flag. They love what it means. The deep patriotism that they felt when they lived through WWII. When they lost a brother in the Korean War. When they lost their son in Vietnam. When they watch a loved one suffer with the effects of Agent Orange. These flags are not just flags. They are symbols of the trials and tragedies they have endured in their lives. The flags are very important to them. One has a grandson with wounds from an explosion in Iraq. And another one loved a soldier who had a wound to the eye, that experienced a permanent vision disability that shattered his dreams for a good future.

The flag is a a reminder that defending your country and the human rights of others is a part of being an American soldier or Marine. The residents will hold that flag dear to them ’til the end. And Kristen and her kids have given them a special gift – a little flag.

Kristen and her kiddies brought red beads and bells that jingled and jangled as we sang Christmas songs. And the bell necklaces were all worn happily,  and jingled and jangled as they walked out of the activity room, or wheeled out of the activity room….with a pile of Christmas presents on their laps, all donated by the people who read my blog or heard of the project from their friends.

This particular group is not poor, and live in a upscale retirement community. But,  that doesn’t mean that they do not appreciate copper tin ornaments in the shapes of gingerbread men and stars, note paper that says Faith and hand lotions, cookies, tissues, Christmas cards, and sugarless candies.

And they all left the room with memories shared – of the times that they took their kids to Breakfast with Santa, celebrated a grandchild’s Christmas birthday on Long Island, fed the ducks on the icy pond, vacationed with the family in a log cabin on Lake Michigan, and attended a Christmas Eve  worship service at a Baptist church, even though they were Catholic. Little exchanges that they didn’t know about each other. Little things that made them laugh. Little things that made me glad that I was there with them.

 

In the spirit of giving and receiving, I think that Operation Secret Santa was a grand success. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

My New Book Came Out Today!

I am so excited about my new book – just in time for families to start a new holiday tradition. Please visit my site: www.lindberghmountain.com

Christmas on Lindbergh Mountain – The Untold Story of Santa’s Magic on Christmas Eve

Available as a download and also as a book on audio CD.

Our neighbors were Nazis. I was only 12 when I left.

I asked the group, WHAT IS THE NICEST THING THAT ANYONE EVER SAID OR DID FOR YOU?

When I was 12-years-old, I lived in Germany during the war. We were Jewish. Our neighbors were Nazis. My mother saved money for me to have a safe passage by boat to England. I went by myself. Many years later, that family sent word to me that they were glad that I survived and that I was safe.

I just didn’t want to leave the gifts there…….

I visited a place in the Ambler area, a place I have been twice and my sister who also does entertainment has been a dozen times. I knew that the residents there would love the gifts that have been donated for Operation Secret Santa for People in Nursing Homes. So, I carried boxes and gift bags filled with pencils, pens, hard candy, shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrush, hand’made Christmas ornaments, holiday Snowmen decorations, tissue paper corsages, hair brushes, body creams and lotions, Chap-Stick, pink and blue slippers, new magazines; word search, word scramble and crossword puzzle books, note cards, Christmas cards, a pink wallet, a black purse, a black blouse, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, cookies, gum, fleece blankets, stuffed animals, socks, scarves, gloves…..you name it – we had it – in with the wonderful Christmas goodies donated by the people who read about my project in the North Penn Reporter!

But alas, this was not the place for the goodies. The Activity Director said that it was too early to give out Christmas gifts and said that she could hold them until December 22nd when Santa Claus comes to visit. She also showed me about 50 gift bags that had been donated by a church congregation. Each bag held a Beanie Baby, lotion, hand sanitizer, and another item.

I wanted to be able to extend the joy from all of the donors to the residents, on a more personal level. I wanted to see the smiles of joy. I wanted to make a difference with the gifts that were donated by so many generous people.

I have talked to all of the people who called and wanted to help out. I know of all of the expense that people went to, to purchase items for me to pass out. I know of the people who asked co-workers and cousins and friends to pitch in to help. I know of the couples, the Scouts, the boys’ basketball team at MMR, the neighbors and friends who chipped in to make gift bags, the ladies living on very fixed incomes…..I knew that they would want the fruits of their labors to go to the right “home” and they did!!!!

So that is why I didn’t leave the items. I just couldn’t do it. That wasn’t the right facility. That wasn’t the right home! The two young activity aides helped me to carry everything back to my car.

I called another facility and asked if I could come there at 3 pm. I asked the Activity Director if she could set up a large table that I could spread the goodies on. And I asked her to invite a lot of residents to come to the room for Christmas presents.

When I got there, the AD was helping 8 residents going on a bus for a trip to Wal-Mart. She had assigned a member of her staff to meet me in the front lobby with a large flatbed cart. We emptied the back of my mother’s car, filled with items for 30 people, on to the cart and we wheeled it in.

The table was quickly filled with all of the holiday gift items and the room was quickly filled up with 20 residents who didn’t really know why they were in the room. The aide turned on the Christmas music and we gave everyone an empty gift bag or decorated shoebox. And then they went to town……each person selecting five items that they wanted or needed. And some were like a Mom on a Mission in K-Mart, selecting 7 or 8 items. But that didn’t matter. To me, that was great. To see their happy expressions, selecting things to give to their grand-kids and great grand-kids. And special items for themselves.

Then we went down and set up our wares on the first floor – only five ladies in that room. The reaction was the same- incredulous that the presents were free – they could take what they wanted and fill their bags with colorful and “happy-looking things.”

Then, we did room-too-room visits. Can you imagine what your surprise gifts meant to people who are too sick or too disabled to be out of their beds?

I left the place saying out loud: Thank you, God. Thank you, God. Thank you for letting me bring all of these beautiful donated things to this place. They needed them. This was the perfect home and all of the people who donated would be soooooooooo happy to know that their generosity was so appreciated.

Thank you to all! You made a very early Merry Christmas for a whole lot of people!

Who is Joe? Who was Joe?

I met a very sweet elderly man at the Masonic Home when I did a couple of programs there. He was very nice, low-key, humble and just seemed kind-hearted. I met his daughter Patrice,  who was visiting with him. She was from the Atlanta area. Honestly, he seemed like so many of the elderly people that I meet. You look at them and see them as they look now. I don’t have any clue of who they were when they were my age (60) or younger. And in this man’s case, an example of a man to be greatly admired – and who would know of his life so very well-lived……….now by posting his life story in his obituary, many of us will never just look at a man in a wheelchair in the same way.

Joe passed away about 6 weeks ago and I saw his obituary. I sent an email to his daughter Patrice:

Hi Patrice,

I was wondering if I could post your father’s obituary or part of it on my site. www.storiesforseniors.wordpress.com

Of course, I can understand if you would prefer that I didn’t. Why I think it is so interesting is that most people just see the people in nursing homes as old and very ho-hum. Your father’s life gives me and I think all who read my blog a sense of appreciation for all that the person was just a few short years ago. That each person has a story..that they are not just an older person in a wheelchair. Your father is proof of a life very well-lived and a man very well-loved…….how I wish that I had known all of that before he passed. He should be honored now and forever for the swell kind of man he was – a friend to so many and a man that so many must have admired for his character and personality and the courage he had to face so many challenges. Sending Hugs above to Joe!

From Patrice:

Hi Patricia–

I was in China in October, and 3 days into the trip my father died unexpectedly.

Thank you so much for your TLC with him several months ago! Yes, you can use the obituary and I have sent photos of my dad as a young man and then proudly wearing his Shriners Fez.  Absolutely post his obituary!  You are a dear. XO, XO, Patrice

11/30/11 Obituary      Joseph M. Dickey, Jr.

Everybody liked Joe Dickey. At his 1986 retirement dinner from AK Steel (formerly Armco, based in Middletown, Ohio) where he’d worked his way up from mill laborer to District Sales Manager in a 36-year career, every level of associate at his client, the Buffalo Ford plant, praised his friendly personality.

A 30-year resident of Buffalo, NY, with his wife, Mary Beth Mauntel Dickey, who predeceased him in 1995, Joe served as Distinguished President of the Amherst, NY, Kiwanis Club and Lt. Governor of Niagara Frontier North Division. He carried on his Santa Claus tradition (begun as a Kiwanian in Memphis, TN, where he delivered toys at St. Jude Children’s Hospital) in Amherst at the NE YMCA.

Always involved with worthy children’s causes, as a young man he led a Boy Scout troop in Park Ridge, IL, even though he had two daughters, Dr. Susan Beth Dickey of Ambler, PA, and Patrice Dickey of Avondale Estates, GA. He also taught Sunday school at the First Methodist Church of Park Ridge, and later served as a Deacon at North Presbyterian Church in Amherst.

He and Mary Beth met at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, where Joe was a member of SAE Fraternity and graduated with a B.A. in psychology & economics in 1950. In 1990 he was awarded Allegheny’s Blue Citation for Outstanding Volunteer Service.

He served as a sergeant in World War II, trained as a gunner on B-17 and B-29 aircraft in the U.S. Army Air Corps. Later he was proud to serve as the president of the 8^th Air Force Historical Society in 2004-2005.

Joe’s great love of aviation and renaissance scope of interests earned him the childhood nickname “Flying Cloud.” He was thrilled while attending the 2004 Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture that his business card was one chosen to go up in a space flight. A peak life experience was flying in the Concorde from New York to London.

His service extended to the NW Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, which he joined in 1949, and over 62 years advanced to 32^nd Degree Mason. He joined the Shriners of North America in 1976 and sang a hearty baritone with both the Ismailia Shrine Chanters (serving as president) and the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus for many years. He was a member of Scottish Rite in the Valley of Buffalo.

Renowned for his optimism and great sense of humor, Joe loved theater, art, music, dancing (named Best Boy Dancer at Cambridge Springs, PA, H.S.) golf, football, waterskiing, Britcoms, and lifelong learning.

Born on February 13, 1926, Joe made his peaceful transition on October 6, 2011, while living at the Masonic Village in LaFayette Hill, PA, near his daughter Susan and granddaughter, Elizabeth Carla Isaacs, 14, of Ambler, PA.

During his life he survived four different types of cancer. Donations in his honor may be made to the Masonic Village or the American Institute for Cancer Research. He was interred in a private ceremony at Greendale Cemetery in Meadville, PA, in October with immediate family and a number of nieces & nephews attending. Condolences to PO Box 245, Ambler, PA 19002.