During the challenges of this pandemic, many people are learning that expression through art can go a long way to lift darkened moods. Sue Brown, a long-time volunteer at Holy Redeemer St. Joseph Manor knows this well and stands as a beacon of artistic light and hope.
Sue, who has brought joy to St. Joseph Manor for 20 years, serves as an art consultant on the floor that houses memory care residents. The smiles she is always met with demonstrate the meaningful impact she makes on residents' lives. “Art takes people to a different level of thought. It opens the door to joy,” says Sue.
Though COVID-19 certainly impacted many of Sue’s planned art projects, she didn’t allow it to overtake her goals. Assisted by Lamont Alexander, who heads activities at St. Joseph Manor, Sue has been connecting with residents via Zoom and other video technologies to continue offering her beloved art lessons.
Sue, along with Lamont and other St. Joseph Manor colleagues make an extraordinary team. Sue brings the art; Lamont and company bring the “drama”—like the time Sue had residents creating a collage of marine life and Lamont and his team members made fish “swim through the air.” It’s this kind of collaboration with St. Joseph Manor team members that makes Sue so proud and passionate about what she does. “If I were by myself, we’d have an art class. Working together, we have magic,” she says.
Despite the challenges of COVID-19, Sue has continued to engineer simple but impactful ways to help memory care residents keep the creative juices flowing. For instance, she champions “goofy paper,” a project of pure simplicity that spreads cheer and only requires a plain felt tip pen and paper. Additionally, Sue delights residents by teaching them how to embellish art with inexpensive, everyday items like food coloring, old makeup, and other household elements.
Sue’s love of collaboration, connection, and community is boundless. In addition to her role as a volunteer art consultant at St. Joseph Manor, she heads an effort that makes cheerful greeting cards for residents and has helped connect Holy Redeemer with volunteers who make scrub caps, gowns, and face shields for frontline team members.
Many thanks to Sue, and all our wonderful volunteers, for the enthusiasm, dedication, and kindness you bring to our residents, patients, and team members. We appreciate all that you do!
Holy Redeemer Thrift Store Reopening
After months of remaining closed due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Holy Redeemer Thrift Store is excited to reopen. During the closure, many patrons of the Thrift Store inquired about both donations and shopping, celebrating the news of the reopening this week.
“Our customers make it possible to keep moving forward,” says Thrift Store Manager Joe Boccella. In keeping with this spirit, Joe and his team members have been hard at work to create a safe shopping experience. The team has implemented new safety measures that include required masking of staff and shoppers, daily screening of team members, enhanced cleaning of touchpoints, limitation of customer occupancy to no more than 25 shoppers at a time, floor markings and signs to promote social distancing, and modification of store hours.
“I spent three months at Spark! Transformation Center helping make PPE for the front lines, I am thrilled to open back up and look forward to seeing everyone back together,” says Joe.
Gratitude Wall Continues to Uplift Spirits
Our Redeemer family continues to enjoy an abundance of gratitude and recognition for all they are doing during this pandemic. From cards to meals, first responder salutes, LifeCare parking lot parades, flowers, and local community discounts, our Redeemer family has never felt more loved and appreciated.
Visit our virtual Gallery of Gratitude to see the continually growing collection of inspirational messages from grateful patients and families.
Many thanks, #RedeemerHeroes, for continuing to show the world our immense capacity to care, comfort, and heal.
