The St. Luke’s community comprises not just our Elders but also the many family and friends who are most important in Elders’ lives. On Sunday evening, September 30th, the St. Luke’s dining room overflowed with St. Luke’s extended family.
“We forget how large the St. Luke’s family is,” said Sally Krommes, program grants manger who helped organize the event. “It is wonderful to see the entire family together, sharing food and conversation.”
Krommes, the official photographer for the evening, will provide copies of the pictures to the Elders. As part of the program, St. Luke’s shared a power-point presentation with highlights of the last year at St. Luke’s.
And, of course, Culinary Director Melissa Hernandez and her talented staff spun magic with a spaghetti dinner that pleased palates of all ages.
Marsie Habib:
Faces of St. Luke’s Century of Service
In celebration of St. Luke’s 100 years, we are proud to offer monthly spotlights on members of the Board of Visitors who, for 100 years, have volunteered their time, creativity and hard work on behalf of St. Luke’s Elders.
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Marsie Habib (pictured above center with St.Luke’s Elders Gretchen, left, and Margaret, right) is an avid hiker and camper with a deep love of the Sonoran Desert. As a docent at the Sonoran Desert Museum, she shares her love and knowledge of the Sonoran with visitors from around the world. “I love how eager they are to learn more about our desert,” she shared.
A member of the St. Luke’s Board of Visitors since 2010, she has taken special joy in St. Luke’s shift to an Eden Registry community, which has assured the natural beauty and aesthetics she reveres are part of daily life in our community.
“I love how St. Luke’s has evolved over the years, especially since it became an Eden community,” Marsie shared. “The hallways now have names and the monthly town hall meetings give everyone a voice. There are lots of smiles and interactions and much caring about each other. The live plants and pets, especially Rio, make it a life-affirming community where our Elders are always learning and growing.”
Marsie and her husband Michael have been married 38 years and have three grown children. Marsie was an early childhood educator in Pre-K at TUSD’s Escuela Monzo Elementary in Barrio Hollywood. Prior to teaching, she was a children’s librarian and has continued to volunteer for organizations like Libraries Limited, which “closes the gap in vocabulary between low-income and middle income families. These programs involve parents and kids and it makes such a difference,” Marsie explained.
As a member of the BOV, Marsie has done it all. She has served as membership chair, recording secretary, corresponding secretary and on the Baile Committee. She also has called Bingo, staffed the front desk and taken Elders shopping. She enjoys direct service to the Elders best of all including hosting birthday parties, card making and putting on the annual Christmas boutique, which she especially loves.
“The Elders are shopping for their friends and eager to share with their friends. They talk and laugh with each other. I am always touched by how deeply they feel for the others. We work hard to get items of interest to them. They all seem to find real joy. It shows St. Luke’s at its very best!”
St. Luke’s and the BBB Seal of Approval
The BBB of Southern Arizona received the national Outstanding BBB award for the relaunch of its Charity Review Program. St. Luke’s CEO L’Don Sawyer, (third from right above) is a member of the Advisory Board that helped lead the relaunch effort.
“I am deeply proud to be part of this important initiative,” L’Don said. “I am even prouder that St. Luke’s Home stands as one of the nonprofits in our region that both completed the review process and came through with flying colors.”
The process to certify St. Luke’s was thorough and exhaustive. The Seal of Approval is proudly displayed on the St. Luke’s web site affirming to all of our donors and partners the high-quality of our community.
St.Andrew’s Volunteers Beautify St. Luke’s
Nearly a dozen volunteers from St. Andrews Presbyterian Church arrived ready to work at St. Luke’s to clean, cut and beautify our grounds.
The members of the St. Andrews congregation spent three hours on Sunday, September 30th, pruning the trees, weed-whacking and hula-hoeing. The beautified grounds offer the perfect complement to the recently painted St. Luke’s Chapel.
Keith Franklin (pictured above) serves as the coordinator of volunteers. He and his son, Josh, were at St. Luke’s on Sunday completing the project to add care-guards to all the chairs in the Chapel.
“It is literally a blessing to us to be able to be of service to St. Luke’s Home,” Keith said. “We all feel grateful to be able to serve the community with things of this nature. And the pruning is especially rewarding because you can see the results immediately!”
Keith also shared how he noticed on his first tour of St. Luke’s the quality of life offered our Elders. “You can see the comfort in the people,” he said, “it is a special place.”
A sincere thanks to St. Andrews Presbyterian. Please know how much your service is appreciated!
Happenings at St. Luke’s Home
St. Pius Youth Program: Sunday, October 7, 1:30 PM in St. Luke’s Dining Room for games and desserts with the Elders
Neighbors Night Out: Wednesday, October 17, 6 PM in the east courtyard of St. Luke’s Home. Come join our Elders and Feldman neighborhood friends for a potluck dessert party.
Halloween Party: Wednesday, October 31, St. Luke’s Dining Room. Come dressed in costume!
Your donations to St. Luke’s Home are deeply appreciated and easy to do. Click on the donate button pictured above to make an on-line donation that supports the mission of St. Luke’s Home.
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