Emporia Community Matters April 2019

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Commun ty Matters Emporia Presbyterian Manor

April 2019

Alice Kalb breaks ground at the first Presbyterian Manor.

Presbyterian Manor system to celebrate 70 years On April 19, Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America (PMMA) will celebrate its 70th anniversary. Our first very first community opened in Newton, Kan., on April 19, 1949, nearly two years after 90-year-old Alice Kalb of El Dorado, Kan., asked the United Presbyterian Synod if it would consider opening a home for the aged. A small exploratory committee formed to look at the idea and determined it had merit. To raise funds for the Newton effort, a dedicated offering throughout the synod took place on Mother’s Day in 1948. The practice of raising funds for Presbyterian Manors on Mother’s Day continues today. The first resident, Mrs. Frances Belle Townsend of Smith Center, Kan., moved into the first ANNIVERSARY, continued on page 6

Our volunteers make all the difference Our community is blessed to have a number of volunteers dedicated to making life easier and more joyful for our residents and staff. As we celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Week April 7-13, we’re putting the spotlight on several of them who make a difference in our community every day. Larry and Linda DeDonder For at least three years, Larry and Linda DeDonder have been faithfully visiting our community on Thursday afternoons to pray the rosary with residents. Once a month, they also do a communion service. It’s something they got involved with through their church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church. “It helps us keep tabs on the residents’ health and condition and it helps us put them in the mind of spirituality because all of them are Catholic and we feel that helps them maintain contact with the church through us,” said Larry. The couple also enjoys entertaining the residents by square dancing for them a couple times a year. VOLUNTEERS, continued on page 2


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Emporia Community Matters April 2019 by Presbyterian Manors of Mid America - Issuu