TELLING THE UCHS STORY

A Christianministrycommitted to providingvibrant senior livingopportunities,diverseprograms ofoutreach andcompassionatehealthcareservices.

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U N I T E D C H U R C H H O M E S A N D S E R V I C E S | W W W . U C H A S . O R G

Fruits of our Labor

Diggin’ it at Lake Prince Woods

Finding CommonGround

Unwavering Generosity

Philanthropy Outreach

PartnershipReaps RewardsThe Willow's, a UCHS supportivehousing community in Burlington,has reaped positive benefits fromAlamance County Walgreens’initiative to promote health andwellness among older adults.

Select students from the Universityof North Carolina in Chapel Hill areparticipating in the Walgreensinternship program aimed topromote wellness to seniors.Monthly, February through May, thestudents are providing health andnutrition seminars and screeningsfor the tenants at The Willow’s.

“We are thrilled to be a partner withthese students and Walgreens toprovide this educational service toour tenants,” shared WendyCovington, Service Coordinator atThe Willow’s. “In addition to theservices these students areproviding, their youthful energy hascreated a renewed spirit ofenthusiasm. The students arewelcomed with anticipation eachmonth.”

Diggin’ it at Lake Prince Woods!Martha Johnson (below left), resident at Lake Prince Woods,has a hidden side. Johnson, along with Nick Card, Director ofthe Ness of Brodgar excavations (below right), shared hersecret at a special program held at the community.

Johnson spends much ofeach year in Orkney,Scotland the heart of theNess of Brodgarexcavations. The six- acresite reveals massive stonestructures and artifactscreated without metal tools.The exceptional stoneworkrelays carefully plannedand well-constructedstructures with stones ofdifferent colors for interiors,

and indications of the earliest evidence in the world of aregular roofing system.

Johnson’s fascination for geology came from her father. “It’ssort of a family profession,” she shared. Johnson first visitedthe site in 2008, then began volunteering in 2009 byassisting in the geological research of more than 3,500 rocksamples. Card describes Johnson as “indispensable.” “She isa huge asset to the excavation,” Card noted. “We’re becomingthe leader on the integration of geology in archaeology, dueto her work.”

Both Johnson and Card ignite when discussing the hundredsof rare Neolithic artifacts being discovered. With 90% stillunder the earth, they both plan to keep on digging.

Enriching LivesAt Carolina SeniorCare PACE, we believe in lifelonglearning. Many participants at Carolina SeniorCarespent their youth working on farms or in factories toprovide the necessities for their families and did notgain the vital literacy skills needed in today’s society.Many were not allowed the opportunity of a fulleducation but hold the desire for one. CarolinaSeniorCare is filling that void through a lifelonglearning enrichment initiative for participants.

Hour-long classes are held twice a week forparticipants to experience and understand theimportance of math and reading. There are no testsand no grades. Each participant receives instructionon their skill level. Topics covered include blending ofsounds, word strategies, sentence structure, mathconcepts, time, budgeting, and money management.

“We have been very pleased with the interest in theenrichment program,” shared Sibert Lewis, Director ofActivities. “Participants are attentive and engagingeach week. Our goal at Carolina Senior Care is tomake a positive effect on their lives, which will ripplethroughout our society. Reading and math skills willassist each individual in processing information,making informed decisions, and problem solving.”

Kids Only Reaches Highest StarKids Only Childcare Center, operated onthe campus of Piedmont Crossing inThomasville, NC, has once again maintainedthe 5-Star rating from the NC Division ofChild Development. The Center, who servesbirth to 5 years of age, along with summerand after school initiatives, is continuouslystriving to enhance educational and programstandards.

“We are thrilled to continue our 5-Star ratingat Kids Only,” shared Lisa Chaffin, Directorof Kids Only Childcare. “The 5-Star rating isextremely important for our center; it's alsoan important tool for parents. It gives themassurance of quality educational programstandards and that a child’s overall well-being is grounded in principles that nurtureand inspire.”

A ministry of UCHS, Kids Only Childcareservices are available to anyone in thecommunity. The center adheres to theirphilosophy that every child deserves anopportunity to grow and learn in a warm andnurturing environment with experiencedindividuals that focus on the needs of thechild.

U N I T E D C H U R C H H O M E S A N D S E R V I C E S | W W W . U C H A S . O R G

Finding Common GroundMrs. Tasha Burgin’s second grade class at Maiden Elementary Schoolhas uncovered a sea of new friends at Abernethy Laurels, a seniorliving community, and the entire school is excited. Shaylyn Ladd,Director of Community Engagement and Mrs. Burgin have partneredto offer Generation Connection, a pen pal program where thesesecond graders and residents in the healthcare center of the seniorcommunity exchange handwritten letters.

The students made the initial contact with the seniors by introducingthemselves and asking many questions. The Abernethy Laurelsresidents were excited to receive the handwritten letters and make

their pen pals official.Even though many arefrail, homebound andwith limitations, theseseniors were quick toseek help in putting theirthoughts on paper andreplying to the letters.Meanwhile, the studentswere eagerly anticipatinga response.

“The letters just can’t flow quickly enough,” shared Mrs. Burgin. “Oncethe students write their letters, they are eagerly wanting a response.They are learning the importance of patience and that responsesaren’t always immediate as in most technology applications.Generation Connection is preserving a lost art, the craft ofhandwriting, while also improving writing skills.”

Generation Connection has mutual benefits for the young and theyoung at heart. The students have enjoyed learning that AbernethyLaurels residents like sports, music, and books. Many of the seniorsshared that they come from larger families and each had daily chores.From an educational experience, the children have benefited from theauthentic writing experience and enjoy learning how different thesenior’s childhood experiences were as compared to their own.

“From a senior’s perspective, our residents have a renewed spirit whenthe letters from the students arrive,” shared Ladd. “They are pleased tooffer positive reinforcement to the students and love triggeringmemories from their past.”

There are unlimited possibilities for the Generation Connection penpal program between Abernethy Laurels’ residents and the studentsat Maiden Elementary School. Even with the school year quicklycoming to a close, Burgin and Ladd have made a lasting partnershipand these second graders at Maiden Elementary will continue theirjourney with their senior pen pals as soon to be third graders whenthe new school year begins.

UCHS PhilanthropyOutreachUnited Church Homes and Services

Foundation recently held a philanthropyluncheon in Lexington, NC, to provide over160 community members and leaders aninsight to the supportive programs of theorganization, including the direct servicesoffered in Davidson County, as well as therecognition of a long-standing volunteer.

The fundraising event brought in $38,000 insponsorships and gifts to the UCHSFoundation. The mission of the UCHSFoundation is to safeguard and dispersefunds in support of the charitable work andministry of UCHS. Last year UCHSprovided over $3,000,000 in unreimbursedhealthcare costs to people in Davidson andsurrounding counties.

Jack Frank, aresident atPiedmontCrossingretirementcommunity, waspresented anaward for 50 yearsof volunteerservice to UCHS.“Jack has devotedhis entire life to

serving our country and helping others,”shared Lee Syria, President and CEO ofUCHS.

Frank was an integral part of PiedmontCrossing’s inception and has served on theUCHS Board of Directors for nearly fivedecades in numerous capacities. In 2010,Frank was given the highest honor withinUCHS and was named Director Emeritus ofthe UCHS Board of Directors. “We want tohonor Mr. Jack Frank for his long-termvoluntary support for over fifty years and hisdedicated service to United Church Homesand Services,” said Syria. “He is an importantand valued member of the UCHS family.”

Unique Boutique Needs Your HelpCarolina SeniorCare PACE participants in Lexington enjoyshopping at Unique Boutique. The store within CarolinaSeniorCare’s Day Center provides participants with muchneeded clothing, household and cleaning items, toiletries, andother necessities needed for everyday life. Participants can

earn “BoutiqueBucks” by engagingin CarolinaSeniorCare activitiesand programs.“Earning their“bucks” has givenparticipants afeeling of beingproductive,” sharedChaplain MistyPolston-York. “It alsoinspires a sense ofdignity and integritywhen participantscan purchase these

items for themselves rather than simply having items givento them.”

Carolina SeniorCare needs to replenish their hygiene andhousehold supplies in the boutique. Your help would beappreciated. To review a list of items needed, please visit ourwebsite at www.carolinaseniorcare.org/blog/boutique-needs-your-support-message-our-chaplain

Fruits of Our LaborThere are few things that are as satisfying to a homegardener than to wander out to the vegetable garden, harvestand consume the fruits of their labor. When spring arrives,residents at Piedmont Crossing are always happy to begincultivating the soil and preparing for planting in theircommunity garden. This year smiles are a bit broader thanksto Keith Crane. Keith, son of residents Vince and ArleneCrane, gifted an irrigation system for the garden. Keithworked tirelessly to install and insure the system wascompleted and ready by gardening season. With the use ofthe irrigation system the garden will flourish, residents canhave more flexible time, and the soil nutrients will bepreserved. Our gratitude goes out to Keith!

Unwavering GenerosityNOAH, a UCHS affordable housingcommunity, and Central & Eastern NorthCarolina Food Bank (CENC) have becomepartners in providing those living with foodinsecurities hope. The CENC Food Bank isensuring their mission that ‘no one goeshungry’ and everyone deserves and shouldreceive access to healthy, nutritious food.

Through partnership with the CENC FoodBank, tenants of NOAH are receiving asupply of meats, vegetables, and grains atminimum or no cost to them. “We are soblessed to have been connected to thisorganization and receive these gifts,” sharedLisa Carroll, NOAH Service Coordinator. “Ithas brought great joy and relief to thosevulnerable and with little means to providefor themselves.”

Non Profit Org.US Postage PAIDNewton, NCPermit No. 5

100 Leonard AveNewton, NC 28658

www.uchas.org

“You can do what I cannot do. I can do what youcannot do. Together we can do great things.”

– Mother Teresa

In late January, many of the leaders from across UCHSprograms gathered together to learn more about our history,mission and vision for the future. We also gathered to sharebest practices and gain insights from our peers within sisterprograms of UCHS. Due to the geographic distance that

separates our eleven campuses, a span of approximately 310 miles, this gathering was a first of this sizefor us as we assembled together 76 team members. And since it was an inaugural gathering, I wasn’t sureexactly what to expect. The day far exceeded my hopes based upon the level of engagement andresponsiveness by everyone who participated. One lesson that I learned for future gatherings was toschedule for more time for informal peer to peer exchange of ideas. The sharing and conversationsamong team members was energizing. The gathering was hopefully another step in facilitating theUCHS team to work across program lines to accomplish great things together. I came away with arenewed sense of appreciation and respect for the leaders across our ministry.

Throughout this edition of Celebration, I hope you will enjoy learning about the great work that we areaccomplishing together. These programs and services are benefiting those we serve, enriching lives andadvancing the mission of UCHS.

Lee SyriaF R O M T H E C E O