Residents at Churchill Terrace in Fulton will feel the love this Saturday.
The Jefferson City Breakfast Rotary Club is planning a "Parade of Hope" for assisted living residents and staff, and everyone is welcome to join. Staging begins at noon along South Hospital Drive and the parade will start at 1 p.m. Participants should check in with the parade organizer, who will be in a silver car at the hospital parking lot entrance, for instructions.
Participants are encouraged to bring decorated signs, balloons, streamers and other eye-catching items. Organizer Nicole Slusser suggested cheering and playing uplifting songs, too. Slusser said the parade will be a surprise for the residents.
"Make sure to follow social distancing protocols during this time," a release from the Jefferson City Breakfast Rotary Club urged. "The residents and their care staff's health and safety are our top priority."
Like many nursing homes across the nation, Churchill Terrace has been closed to visitors since early in the pandemic.
"I know (residents) are feeling really trapped right now," Slusser said Thursday. "If they do see their family, it's through the window, over the phone or through a screen."
In late April, Americare Senior Living, which operates Churchill Terrace, made it clear the policy would continue indefinitely to preserve residents' safety.
"We understand how difficult it is to be separated from your loved ones for such a long period of time," wrote Clay Crosson, ASL's president and chief operating officer.
Though based in Jefferson City, the club has a special connection to Churchill Terrace through Slusser, who sometimes visits the facility to sing for residents. As part of an outreach project, club members raised funds to purchase "Perfect Petzzz" stuffed animals for Churchill Terrace residents. These toys simulate pet ownership and provide comfort for residents with dementia and Alzheimer's, without the complications of keeping a living animal.
"(Those residents) are experiencing a lot of anxiety and stress right now," Slusser said. "I wanted to figure out a way to get the pets to residents and for club members to also see the people they're helping. To me, it just makes sense to do a 'Parade of Hope.'"
She hopes the parade brings cheer to residents and participants alike.
"I know for me, personally, it's very therapeutic when I feel I can give back in some form," Slusser said. "I know for others it's the same. When we're struggling the hardest, the most therapeutic thing is to help others who are struggling too."
If all goes well, the club may organize similar parades at other area facilities - she's already getting calls requesting them, Slusser said.
For more information, Slusser can be reached via email at [email protected].