Serving - Building a Meaningful Life and Community

September 2009

Doris Harvey Dickerson, resident

Vibrant is a surprising word to describe life at Landis Homes. Life in this community is an opportunity to grow mentally, physically and spiritually by reaching out in God's love to others.

When my parents (Francis and Elsie Harvey) were here at Landis Homes, Dad was involved in many activities as well as visitation of those living on the East side with his harmonica. During their later years, volunteers visited, sang, and read to my parents, watered their plants, provided homemade cookies on special days, pushed wheelchairs to chapel and appointments, keeping them "in community."

Since my sister Ann and her husband Reuben Bigelow have come, they have been able to share their musical talents on piano and violin in programs throughout the campus and community. Reuben is also an active wheelchair volunteer. In turn, they have appreciated the volunteer shopper who at times has managed their occasional weekly purchase at Oregon Dairy.

As new kids on the block, my husband Bennett is enthusiastically running trains each Friday. We are getting involved off-campus with the Karen refugees in the Lititz-Lancaster area. We were both pleased with the Pathways program with the great presenters and the trips provided. Our brains will keep turning over!

The volunteer record here is just so impressive. Most people do not come to Landis Homes to plunk themselves down to be served because "they paid for it." Volunteering from the residents totals 50,000 hours which is equal to 23 fulltime staff or $1,000,000 saved on the administration of Landis Homes.

Many off-campus friends volunteer. Groups volunteer, high school students doing their community service time of 25-40 hours for graduation. Caring Kids, aged 13-17, make friendly visits to lonely people. Catholic kids serving a week in June helped the grounds crew, etc.
In Adult Day Care folks volunteer to play games, go for walks and help participants change clothes to swim. Volunteering does not cease when you cross that line from West to East. Residents in Assisted Living are volunteering to be friendly visitors to others which is developing a real sense of community. They also sort silverware in the washing process.

With the total campus involvement for Farm Day and Fellowship Day and Chicken Barbecue, the financials needs of many are met with the help of the Caring Fund.

The act of serving is building relationships in our community, which is what Landis Homes is all about. Using our time and resources, both physical and financial, to serve Christ and others enables each of us to continue long, healthy lives with purpose and meaning both here at the Landis Homes community, and by extension into the whole world.

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