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Greetings!
You know, when we do Chesed Corps projects at Cedar Village, we always wonder who is the most affected by them-those we are working to help or the staff and residents who provide the program or service. If you aren't familiar with the Cedar Village Chesed Corps, it is a group of volunteers comprised of staff and residents who do regular service projects for the community. Our Chesed group packs Shabbat baskets every week for area hospitals (we are now serving three with a fourth about to come on line). The Shabbat baskets have a freshly baked challah, candy, wine, fruit and a "Shabbat Shalom" note from Cedar Village. We deliver them to the hospitals and then they use volunteers or Pastoral Care staff to deliver them to Jewish patients. If they don't have Jewish patients, or don't have enough for all of the baskets, we ask that they share them with Jewish staff or give them to anyone who could use a "lift" in their spirits. The feedback has been wonderful.
But the Chesed Corps has not stopped there. We've collected and packed supplies for Operation Thank You troops. We have barrels out in the lobby, an annual event, to collect school supplies for children in need. We've made lunch and taken it to the Ronald McDonald House on three separate occasions. And we had a wonderful "unbirthday" party for the residents of the Center for Respite Care, a special place that cares for homeless individuals with health issues.
This week we added a new "notch" to the Chesed Corps "belt." We took dinner to Halom House in Blue Ash. Halom House is a group home for individuals with cognitive impairments. We loaded residents and a few staff into the Cedar Village bus and then piled in a feast of food prepared by our Dining Services staff. We set up, served and then we all ate together, staff and residents from both places. We had some lovely conversations and got to know one another and, of course, we took pictures and so did they! After dinner, our incomparable music therapist, Jude Jones, pulled up a comfy spot on the sofa, put her guitar on her knee and led us in about an hour of lively sing-a-long. We all learned a new song "Shalom, my friend," and then she took requests, which were plentiful.
Marcia Westcott, Director, Resident Programming, is the driving force behind our Chesed Corps and she has done a wonderful job with all of these projects. She feels strongly, and we all agree, that many of our residents were leaders and volunteers in the community and that there is no reason they can't continue to "give back." When we help others, we truly benefit ourselves as well. If you have ideas for projects that Chesed could help with, by all means let us know. We welcome your ideas and suggestions
Other important notes this week-our Cedar Village Hospice is continuing to grow and we are so pleased to be able to offer this important service to our community. Hospice is not just for the very end of life. It is for those who have a terminal diagnosis with an expectation of six months or less to live. There are often people who stay on hospice care longer than six months, if they continue to be appropriate and that is indicated by the physician. Hospice offers an enhancement of services for both the patient and their family, both short term and long term. Cedar Village Hospice has a dedicated and experienced staff including physicians, nurses, aides, social work and chaplain. If you or someone you know might benefit from hospice services, give us a call. We'd be glad to send a member of our team to do an assessment and have a conversation-no obligation. Just call us at 513.754.3100.
I hope you have already made a note to join us on August 11. At 7 p.m., we will have our very first outdoor concert! The Buffalo Ridge Jazz Band will be entertaining us out by the gazebo. Bring your chairs, blankets, friends and family and don't miss it! Rain will move us inside to the Wilbur and Mary Jean Cohen Religious and Cultural Center but it won't deter us so please be with us! Don't forget that we are just a few short weeks away from the Cedar Village Golf Classic. It's August 22 at Wetherington Golf Club. It's a beautiful course, a great setting and always a spectacular day. Please plan to be there!
All the best,
Carol Silver Elliott
CEO/President, Cedar Village
carol@cedarvillage.org
  
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