We are excited to announce that we are resuming our monthly visits with veterans, widows, and wives at local senior living facilities. Thanks to the enthusiasm and support from Ashley, the Activity Director at Bonaventure, we are excited about the potential for continued community connection.

We had a great turnout on 9 July, with 10 of our Post and Auxiliary members and 8 residents showing up to enjoy coffee, sweet treats, and friendly conversation. Ashley made sure the coffee was ready, the tables and chairs were set, and the residents were aware of this casual opportunity. We showed up with the treats and smiling faces, ready to listen to the stories they wanted to share. It was very well received, and they are looking forward to our return on the first Tuesday of each month. Our next events are 4 Aug and 1 Sept at 9am.

This is a great way for us to connect with veterans, spouses, and widows in our community in the comfort of their current situation rather than having them try to arrange transportation to come to our Post home on Friday for our weekly coffee event.

I chatted with Ed and Pam Reinfeld who have spearheaded this endeavor to get their thoughts on why this is important to do. Ed explained that “we are veterans, we are a family, and we stick together.” Going to the senior living facilities and having coffee and conversation with the veteran residents “helps them know that they are remembered” even if they don’t always feel that way. In particular, Ed shared that “seeing them smiling and happy, communicating with each other and sharing their stories, lighting up at the chance to chat with us” is what brings him joy from these events. Pam also recalled that during the first event, there were 2 residents, both veterans, who showed up and made an instant connection. Only after the fact did Ashley inform us that those two people had both been living at Bonaventure for over 8 years and until that day hadn’t met each other before – now they always get together! Our event helped kindle a new friendship between these residents in a way that no other activity at the facility would have done.

This is just one of the ways our Post is #StillServing our community – by giving folks another way to connect with each other and finding joy in the simple things in life. As this partnership continues with Ashley and the residents at Bonaventure, we are hoping to expand and do something similar at other local senior living locations, if they will have us.