St Luke's Home Newsletter February 2022
Executive Director Report
Year of the Tiger
As we settle into February, we have celebrated Martin Luther King, the Year of the Tiger, and Henrietta (the groundhog) has predicted an early spring. Here at St. Luke’s, we are getting ready for our home to be renovated. That’s a lot already and it’s only a month into the new year. You will hear more about the renovations in the months to come. It is exciting to be part of ensuring that St Luke’s Home is sustainable and able to provide housing to low-income Elders long into the future.
As many of you know, one of our elders celebrated her 100th Birthday. Berta was 100 in January, and we were honored to have celebrated with her. Individuals aged 100 or over make up less than one percent of the US population. Currently, the US has the highest number of centenarians with 97,000 in 2021. Japan comes next and they have the world’s oldest person at 117-years-old. Her title is Super Centenarian. It’s funny to hear some of the “secrets” of becoming centenarians. Some swear by their daily cocktail or a bowl of ice cream a day. One woman who lived until 116 swore it was eating lots of bacon. The research tries to tell us that eating right, having positive and close relationships, and moving regularly are important, but happiness is also the key. So if ice cream, bacon, or having a cocktail make you happy, it might be the key to long life! When I asked Berta what her secret was, she said, “Gosh, I don’t really know.” But what I see in her is that she has remained engaged in her life and is calm in her daily approach. She is a distinguished role model, and what a joyful celebration we had!
Lastly, remember to look at the Snow Moon on February 16. It is called the Snow Moon because typically heavy snowfall occurs in most places in February. February is the snowiest month. We are lucky, it’s cold, but it always warms up. Enjoy, be safe and stay healthy.
Terri Waldman, Executive Director
Happy Centennial Berta!
St Luke’s home celebrated Berta’s 100th Birthday with an amazing Car Parade! Thank you to all the people that got involved. We couldn’t have done it with out them! Tucson Classic Chevy Club, West Press Printing, Elizabeth Thompson Photography, Brenda's Creations, Tucson Womens Club, and all or Tucson community and friends!
Baile de Gracias
Ways to Give Here are some of the different ways you can support St Luke's Home.
St Luke’s Home appreciates our many generous donors whose kindness and compassion does so much for our elders. Would you like some more ideas on ways to help an Elder? (There must be 50 ways to love an Elder.)
Does your work have an employee match program? Ask your management if St Luke’s Home could be part of the employee match program at your place of employment.
In-kind goods. St Luke’s Home thanks you for your generosity to our elders. Please call us to ensure there is a need before you drop something off.
St Luke’s Home will gladly accept a kind online donation at www.stlukeshometucson.org. You may want to explore planned giving options there as well.
If you would rather send a check. We will gratefully accept a check via we postal mail to 615 E. Adams St., Tucson, AZ 85705
Prefer a credit card? Call (520) 628-1512 and talk to Jess. She can take a credit card payment over the phone. (For your security, please don’t leave your credit card information on a voicemail or send by email.)
Finally remember you can get a tax credit by giving to St Luke’s Home (see below).
Thank you again for your kindness and generosity.
Arizona Tax Credit There's Still Time!
Don’t forget St Luke’s Home is a qualified 501 (c)3 organization with Qualifying Code 20211. This means you can receive the Arizona Tax Credit by donating to our Elders.
Your donations make it possible to provide comfort, cuisine, community, and 24/7 care to Elders who cannot afford the costs of for-profit assisted-living.
Or mail your check to:
St Luke's Home Attn: Administration 615 E Adams St Tucson AZ 85705
Rio's Corner The scoop about St Luke’s Home from the dog with a nose for news.
Rio here, just thinking of my friend Berta. She became a centenarian just a couple of weeks ago. She made the TV news. She looked beautiful, sitting on her throne, tiara on head, waving back to well wishers as they drove by. She did it so well, I wondered if she was ever royalty.
Naturally, this made me start to wonder about life experiences. You know, I am an adventurous dog due to my innate curiosity. I enjoy a good ball toss for sure and running around in the sprinklers is almost an assured good time in the mud. Watching my U of A Wildcats is a favorite activity, although I am known to pace in front of (as well as bark at) the television. Sometimes it’s encouragement; sometimes it’s a scolding for a bad pass or missed rebound -- which doesn’t happen often. Missed free throws drive me nuts! It’s true, this is the only time you’ll hear me bark, “GO CATS!”
I am also a well-rounded dog; hence I enjoy cultural activities as well as sports. I may not always understand it, but I still like it. Travel, museums, classical literature, and music, I like them all. I’ll at least try. Sometimes, I’ll ask for help. I enjoy Shakespeare when someone doth translate into plain English. Invariably they will say doing so loses the spirit and the magic of the old bard, but I say, “What good is style without being able to understand substance?” I am also a practical dog.
I like museums, I have hopes of seeing the Louvre in Paris. (Special thanks to my pal for telling me the correct pronunciation is not “Loo”. She was clear I didn’t want to fly to Paris to go to the Loo!) I hope to see the Mona Lisa. I don’t find her smile that mysterious. She looks like she’s been promised a puppy treat if she sits still. I know I look like that when I dream of puppy treats.
Once, I snuck into the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The artwork was very intriguing. With lifted ears, I turned my head this way and that to figure out what they depicted, but to no avail. Newly inspired, I would like to make my own piece of abstract art with the Elders. I would love soft colors as the base on a large canvas and between their brushes, my paws, and swishy tail, I bet we could produce a priceless piece of art. They may even hang it at MOMA!
While in NYC, I also saw the Guggenheim. The displayed photos were cool, but I loved the shape of the museum best. Great place to run around in circles! Think cardio plus art. I also went to the Metropolitan Museum’s Egyptian wing and stared at these dog carvings which seemed to stare back at me. It was a dog stare down. I swear I could hear the music similar to an old western playing – you know the type-- when the villains and the good guys stood on opposite sides of the dirt street, and someone invariably spits out tobacco. (Yuck.) It seemed like an eternal standoff. I couldn’t help myself. I uttered a low growl, ever so softly. I thought I had the upper paw, but I was nonetheless “escorted” out of the museum. Oh, the incontrovertible injustice of it all! The other dog started it.
Au revoir mes amies. I feel like more culture, and I am off to listen to classic music. Bruce Springsteen. High Paw!
Your friend,
St Luke’s Home in the Desert Inc is an Arizona Qualified Charitable Organization (QCO) and your gift may entitle you to a credit up to $400 as an individual filer or $800 as a married couple on your Arizona State Tax Return. Our Qualified Charity Code is 20211. If you haven’t already taken advantage of this wonderful credit, please keep the Elders of St Luke’s Home in mind.
Your donations to St Luke’s Home are deeply appreciated and easy to do.
Click here to make an on-line donation that supports the mission of St Luke’s Home.
We appreciate your support!
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