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It started with the simple act of cleaning out a closet. Tucked behind a stack of sweaters, I found one of my Grandmother’s old pocketbooks. The kind with a soft clasp and a lining that had seen years of living. Inside: a faded bank pen, a single Halls lozenge (that likely tasted like pennies), a crumpled Kleenex with her lipstick pressed faintly on the edge (though most were up her sleeve), and a wrapped candy that was certainly meant to be loudly unwrapped in a church pew that next Sunday. That familiar scent, her scent, still lingered. And just like that, I was no longer standing in my bedroom. I was back beside her, hearing her laugh, remembering the warmth of her hand.
At Gateway Home, every person who walks through our doors becomes a part of our extended family. We share in laughter, we shoulder grief, and we offer presence—not just care—in life’s most vulnerable moments. But every so often, we are called to care for someone who is already part of our own family in a different way: the loved ones of our staff. These moments are tender, humbling, and deeply personal.
The first thing you noticed when you entered Gateway Home wasn't the scent of brownies or the soft classical music playing—it was the light. Gentle and golden, it streamed through the large windows of the living room, casting warm puddles on the floor. An elderly man sat there, bundled in a soft knit blanket, smiling faintly at a caregiver crouched beside him.
It was a great day to be a Gateway Home volunteer! We had so much fun, food, and FELLOWSHIP! Thank you all who were able to come out and celebrate each other! A huge thank you to the Gateway Home Board of Directors for sponsoring such a wonderful afternoon!
Every year we gather together in the early part of "spring". We bake up some delicious pancakes, sausage, and eggs. We put out some pretty baskets all done up in ribbons. Linda starts the coffee, and then we wait. We wait almost like kids on Christmas Eve. And just like Santa, every year there you are!
One of the things you will frequently hear me say is, "once you are here, you are our family." Family means a lot of different things to people. I, personally, started as a family of 3. I was an only child with my mom and dad. Then our family became just 2, my mom and I. When I was 12 my mom fell in love and my family became a family of 6! Many things were different about each situation, but a few important things remained no matter the size of the family. There was always love. There was always support. And there was always really good food.
The first annual Gateway Home Memorial service was held on November 13, 2024 at the 1st Baptist Church in Attica.
Brick by brick, those who wanted to honor the memory of a Gateway Home resident contributed to walkways at the comfort care facility. They were able to see the results when the walkways were dedicated recently.
Another wonderful project for the Gateway Home done and ready for the resident families to enjoy spending time with loved ones on the decorative concrete pad and underneath the new fancy pergola. Once again, it was a project that just simply couldn't have gotten done without the help of the community stepping up and volunteering.