The act of serving others is the heart of Bethesda Gardens' mission. It gives us the chance to follow in our Lord's footsteps and share with others the love that God first showed us.
Believers who worry they aren't able to serve adequately due to age or health can find encouragement in 1 Peter 4:10-11, which assures us that God gives us the strength and abilities we need to help others.
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.
This uplifting truth lets us approach serving with anticipation and assures seniors that they can join their brothers and sisters in Christ in volunteering their time and talents.
To help seniors get started, here are some fun volunteer opportunities to consider trying soon.
Residents who want to give back can visit Frisco's volunteer page to learn more about opportunities to aid the library, Heritage Museum and fire department.
More ideas that seniors may want to try include:
Mentoring and tutoring youth through after-school programs
Walking dogs or playing with pets that need socialized at the animal shelter
Becoming the card minister or newsletter writer at their church
Playing music or entertaining patients in the hospital
Making and signing a thank you poster together with the staff and other residents to present to police officers or firefighters
Serving others often starts at home, and there are plenty of chances for seniors to help out in our assisted living family. The best way to get started is to speak with the staff and residents to learn about specific needs or hear ideas of things that others would like to see in our community.
To help get the conversation started, here are a few ideas seniors may want to consider.
Help neighbors decorate their apartments for holidays or special events
Start a community newspaper
Act as a guide for new residents still learning their way around
Host a scheduled Bible study, book discussion or poetry reading
Create flower arrangements for community members celebrating birthdays
Fatigue and health issues can make it hard to help others as we wish; however, there are ways that seniors can make a difference from the comfort of their own apartments.
Seniors who love to sew, knit or crochet can use their skills to benefit children, soldiers and pets around the world. No-sew fleece patterns let quilters keep making blankets even if they no longer own a sewing machine.
Greeting cards are a joy to receive and to make. Many charities are happy for donations of blank, handmade cards.
Scrapbooking is a fun hobby that can take more time than some young parents have to give. Grandparents can offer to help organize family photo albums into special keepsakes or design memory ornaments.
