Commun ty Matters Wichita Presbyterian Manor
June 2016
Ida the dollmaker Hundreds of Kansas children have been comforted by Ida Coombs in a difficult time. Ida, a resident of the Westerly Residences, has been making cloth dolls for child patients at Wesley Medical Center since 2012. She makes them a dozen at a time, and she recently completed her 24th batch. “It took me a little while to get the hang of everything,” Ida said. “After this many dozen, I’ve got it down to a science.” The dolls are given to children who are admitted to the hospital, often after a trauma. Not only do they give comfort, but they are used to communicate with the young patients and help them understand what’s happening. Nurses and doctors can use the doll to show a child where he or she may get a shot or have an incision. And the kids can DOLLS, continued on page 3
Residents enjoy dinner in The Landing at Presbyterian Manor.
It’s a grand opening Residents and guests of Wichita Presbyterian Manor celebrated the grand opening of the newly revitalized campus with a week of activities and events the first week of May. Residents enjoyed a special dinner May 3 in the campus’ seven dining venues with short remarks by Dawn Veh, executive director, and Bruce Shogren, president and chief executive officer of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, the campus’ parent organization. “When we were in each dining venue on the campus, you could feel the sense of family that is developing on this campus,” Shogren said. Local VIPs and strategic partners gathered for a dedication ceremony on May 4 on the front circular drive. Rev. Laura Frazey from Covenant Presbyterian Church led the invocation, offering thanks for the project and all involved. “You are the God of dreams,” Frazey said. “Today, we celebrate a dream realized.” Shogren said the campus project was a long time coming and introduced the strategic partners who worked on the project—AG Architects, Paric Construction, management company Greystone, advertising agency GRAND continued on page 2
GRAND, continued from page 1
GlynnDevins and financier Zeigler.
expressed his thanks to PMMA for investing in Wichita’s west side.
“This validates the council’s decision to not put in a flyover at 13th Street. We did not want to disrupt this campus. We appreciate your Randy Wedel, vice chairman of the PMMA Board of Trustees, also shared investment in the community and this a few remarks. The event was his first campus,” Longwell said. opportunity to tour the completed Chef Dany Chebat prepared campus, and he expressed the board’s hors d’ oeuvres and desserts for pride in a job well done. the reception that followed the ceremony. Residents and their “This campus is another statement families enjoyed a campus-wide of our dedication to quality senior picnic the evening of May 5. More living, assuring its viability well into than 400 residents and their families the future,” Wedel said. participated. Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell The week culminated with an open acknowledged Janet Miller, city councilwoman representing Wichita house and parade of homes on Saturday, May 7. Presbyterian Manor’s district, and “There isn’t anything like this on the west side of Wichita,” Shogren said.
® ®
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Wichita Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org. Dawn Veh, executive director Jill Coleman, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Amy Watson, life enrichment director, awatson@pmma.org. Telephone: 316-942-7456 Fax: 316-941-3806 Address: 4700 W. 13th St., Wichita, KS 67212-5575 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. WichitaPresbyterianManor.org
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Community Matters June 2016
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Grand opening scenes at Wichita Presbyterian Manor’s revitalized campus
Left: Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell addresses a crowd during Wichita Presbyterian Manor’s grand opening. Above: Resident Dorothy Rowden is joined by Mayor Longwell, left, and PMMA President and CEO Bruce Shogren during a ribboncutting ceremony. For photos of the event’s family and friends picnic, see page 4.
DOLLS, continued from page 1
use them to show where they have pain. The faces are blank so that the children can draw one themselves. And, Ida makes little cloth hospital gowns for each doll. She looks for fabric with patterns that would appeal to kids, like ladybugs or animals, as well as Jayhawks or Shockers or Wildcats.
From time to time, Ida hears from families who were grateful to receive a doll for their child. The last time she took a collection to the hospital, a woman in the elevator recognized them. “She said, my daughter got one of those when she was here, and she still has it.”
Ida started sewing the dolls nearly four years ago through her church. The woman who directs missions came to Ida’s quilting group one day and asked if they would make some. She provided the pattern for both the doll and the gown. Others contributed a few dolls and then stopped, but Ida kept going. “I’ve always liked to sew,” she said. “I’ve made quilts and given them to multiple nieces and nephews. This keeps me busy, and I knew I’d be able to work on these here after I changed residences.” Like us on Facebook
Ida Combs delivers her latest batch of dolls. Wichita Presbyterian Manor
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Friends and family picnic On May 4, residents and their guests gathered to enjoy Wichita Presbyterian Manor’s friends and family picnic, as part of the grand opening celebration in May.
JOIN the
WELCOME
PROJECT Life is better when you’re surrounded by friends. If you know of friends who are interested in the independent living or assisted living lifestyle you enjoy here, providing their names could lead to rewards—for both of you. Pick up a referral form in the marketing office. *Certain restrictions apply. For complete details, contact the Marketing Office.
Send a balloon. Show you care.
Support Presybterian Manors of Mid-America with a gift to the Good Samaritan Program. We’ll add another balloon to the bouquet and residents will see how much you care. Donate online at: PresbyterianManors.org/How_To_Give or stop by the front desk to make a gift.
August signals the beginning of school What are your memories of school? Were you a teacher or lifelong student? Did you get a degree late in life? How did education shape your life? If you’ve got a story to share, contact Life Enrichment Director Amy Watson, and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.
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Community Matters June 2016
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