On the first Wednesday of every month, volunteers from Bear Creek United Methodist Church visit residents of Edgewood Manor of Lucasville for a time of laughter and activities.

“My mother kept telling us we needed to visit the place, and we finally started doing it, “said Sheila Lute, a lead volunteer from Bear Creek UMC who began the visits around 2017.

Church volunteers arrive with a treasure trove of fun, songbooks for group singing, a biblical story to share, snacks, and games, including their favorite, bingo. The group also gives each person a treat bag. “We try to keep everything themed,” Lute said. For example, when volunteers told the story of the feeding of the five thousand, a snack was Goldfish cheese crackers.

Up to 30 residents of Edgewood Manor look forward to the monthly visit. Lute said, “These residents are starved for attention. Many don’t have families.”

The residents enjoy playing bingo and sharing jokes and riddles.

The volunteers are considering visits to people incarcerated at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility. “We are praying on that for now,” Lute said.

But the blessing is not just for the residents. A couple volunteering for the first time left in tears reflecting, “It feels so good to see them appreciate us.”

Lute confessed, “We intend to give them a blessing, but we get it in return.”

Written my Amy Graham, Freelance Writer with West Ohio Communications