Galentine’s
Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but love is still in the air! This past Thursday (2/15), girls from Fant and Letourneau went to Clary Care Center for a community partnership event hosted by ResLife. This event, called “Galentine’s,” was a way for students to form relationships and show their love for the ladies (and one gentleman) at the nursing home.
The TFC volunteers arrived at Clary Care Center armed with nail polish, face-masks, craft supplies, and decorations preparing to pamper the women housed there. After a quick setup of tablecloths and beautiful flowers (arranged by the lovely RA’s), volunteers walked the halls to invite the residents of Clary to the Galentine’s party. A majority of the women who came to the party stayed until the end, and one gentleman joined to spend time with the volunteers (although he remained at the craft table, unwilling to get his nails painted or a face-mask).
Many of the ladies gravitated to the nail polish station, where volunteers would trim and file their nails before painting them a color of the resident’s choosing. The women were clearly enjoying themselves; each Clary resident at this station had two TFC girls tending to her: one to paint the nails and the other to simply converse with.
The facemask station was not as popular; however, the guests of this station were absolutely thrilled to have someone painting their face. Two women (who seemed to be good friends) got matching green masks, and it was a joy to see their reactions when they had their pictures taken together.
The craft station was another popular station, where the ladies (and one gentleman) were free to either make cards or have a card made for them by volunteers. If the card was intended for someone else, volunteers would diligently write what the guests dictated. There were some guests who wanted their cards for themselves, and the TFC ladies wrote kind and encouraging notes to remind them of how much they are loved.
When the evening was through many of the TFC volunteers walked away with teary eyes, reluctant to leave the new friends made at the event. The flowers used in decorating were given to the Clary residents, who still enthusiastically talked to the volunteers even as they were escorted back to their rooms. It was a special night for all who attended, and those at Clary Care Center will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.