The need is to identify $4 million dollars to complete the $16 million dollar project package. Developer, Brent Williams, has identified 75% of the project funding through tax incremental funding, (TIF).

           "Forest Hill Living Community" is the retrofit of the old St. Joseph Hospital at 10th and Dorcas Streets in Omaha, Nebraska. With the addition of this independent living facility, the campus bounded by Martha, Dorcas, 8th and 10th Streets becomes a virtual continuing care retirement center allowing the residents of south Omaha to age in community.

          Relocation is especially traumatic for older people leaving behind family and friends and familiar surroundings. Forest Hill allows people to give up the burden of home ownership while permitting to them to stay in their neighborhood and near family and friends.

          Forest Hill will offer services to the neighborhood as well to include a grocery store, hair care, a bank, clothing and restaurant. The plans also include a large ballroom available for weddings, dances and other community events. Integrating the generations is an important aspect of Forest Hill.

      A big Thank You! to Ruben Rivera, general manager, Old Country Buffet, and the managers and staff for their great support of this event. DM volunteers were on hand for over 96 volunteer hours, talking with OCB customers and collecting their receipts. Results will be posted soon!

          I know that the residents of the nursing homes and assisted living facilities would express their heart-felt gratitude as well.

Thank You!

          Well... we didn't win first place but we won a lot of new friends. A very big "Thank You!" goes to Westgate Assisted Living, marketing director, Lacy Jungman for creating such a wonderful event! Also a very big "Thank You!" goes to Laura Jean O'Conner, director of the Papillion Senior Center for partnering with DM executive director.  The two of them worked hard through the month of March, taking lessons, provided Joan Udes, champion dancer, and rehearsing. 

           Then all through the month of April, Paul and Laura Jean competed for the $1,000 purse. They placed a respectable 4th, getting "Honorable Mention."  Several anonymous gifts were given to be distributed among the non-winning organizations.  Thank You! 

           This is one event where everyone won!

          Overseeing some 150 volunteers, writing newsletters, hosting bi-monthly volunteer meetings to include a day-long volunteer retreat has kept Ruth on the run. Her energy and passion are contagious as she keeps a quick pace.        

           Knowing how to deal with our grief will help us know how to help others who are grieving. Grieving is a part of working in a nursing home. Staff become attached to the residents only to have them pass away at some point and many times unexpectedly. During the flu season several "friends" can pass in the same week.

           Through these workshops we hope to move our volunteers to a higher level of effectiveness in relationship building with the residents. Call or E-mail Ruth for future workshop dates.

           The Radio Hour reaches nursing home residents, shut-ins, care staff, families and potential volunteers. The Radio Hour is a powerful recruiting tool for DM.

           Last week, just for the fun of it, Paul and Ruth while in Tecumseh, broadcasting from Belle Terrace, a skilled nursing facility, asked people to call in and volunteer. Paul jokingly said if you are driving pull over and call in. When he returned to his office he found a voice mail from someone who had done just that!!

            The Radio Hour is streamed and so now our audience is worldwide.

Please send any comments about this page to the Desert Ministries WebMaster
Copyright ©2008 Desert Ministries, Inc.  All rights reserved.