Wichita Presbyterian Manor
Presbyterian Manor nurse feels compelled to give back SEPTEMBER 2021
Independent living resident offers laughter as a service “Why was the kangaroo mother sad when it rained on Noah’s Ark? “Because her kids wanted to play inside.” That’s just one of Virgil Strong’s Noah’s Ark jokes. It’s fitting that a Bible story about God’s Donna and Virgil Strong in faithfulness would serve as the backdrop for many of Virgil’s jokes. The independent living 2010. resident and his late wife, Donna, were both baptized in their late 20s. It was a turning point in his life. “The Lord laid his hands on us both and said, ‘It’s time to stop acting so foolish,’” Virgil laughed. He and Donna met at the age of 18. Their mothers were best friends and introduced them — although Virgil says his mother-in-law didn’t think it would last more than a year. She was wrong: The Strongs were married 64 years before Donna passed away eight years ago. “I don’t know how she put up with me that long,” Virgil joked. The couple spent a great deal of time in service to others. Donna, a speechlanguage pathologist, served as the chair of the mission committee at Wichita’s Covenant Presbyterian Church for 10 years. She and Virgil made four trips to the Gulf of Mexico to do relief work in the years following Hurricane Katrina. They also traveled to Indian reservations in Utah, Arizona, Nebraska and Montana to help with repairs. Virgil volunteered for Meals on Wheels and the Kansas Food Bank. Another meaningful volunteer experience was providing Christian counsel to incarcerated men at the El Dorado Correctional Facility for Prison Fellowship, a ministry founded by Chuck Colson. He even turned one of his volunteer gigs into a full-time job. The first year Virgil and his fellow
Strong – continued on page 4
Each payday, a small amount of money is deducted from Teresa Scoles’ check. Those funds benefit programs at Wichita Teresa Scoles Presbyterian Manor. Though she has been giving for some time, Teresa hasn’t always been a regular donor. The first time she lent financial support to PMMA’s mission was during the Christmas season when each community has an “angel tree” to encourage community and family members to donate to the Good Samaritan Program. Those funds help provide for Presbyterian Manor residents who have outlived their financial means through no fault of their own. It ensures that residents will have a lifetime home. That was at Sterling Presbyterian Manor, where Teresa worked before transferring to Wichita seven years ago. In May, the registered nurse celebrated 25 years with PMMA®. Teresa’s donations also support the PMMA Employee Education Fund, which provides financial assistance to Presbyterian Manor employees who further their education in their field. She has enjoyed watching “CNAs turn into CMAs, CMAs turn into LPNs and down the line.” “When I was director of nursing, I encouraged that, and several employees took advantage of the
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