Landis Homes

Helen June Martin has been a volunteer for over 8 years and began volunteering in the Harvest View Mail Room in 2012. She also volunteers in the General Store as a cashier and contributes via her sewing skills (making over 200 items). She moved into Landis Homes with her husband Edgar in 2012. She enjoys volunteering because in her words, “It’s in my blood.” She shares that volunteering had been a part of her life growing up, and also part of the lives of her parents and grandparents. She really enjoys people and togetherness. Her husband Edgar also has a long history of volunteer work, assisting Mennonite Disaster Service for over 30 years with their trips to provide aid to areas in the U.S. affected by natural disasters. Helen June has always had the desire to serve and it brings her great joy and a sense of satisfaction helping others. Upon making their decision to move to Landis Homes, Helen June and Edgar made a commitment to become part of the “community”, and could think of no better way than getting involved and pitching in and volunteering.

This handsome Wood Duck has taken up residence on one of our campus ponds. Photo shared by Ron G., part of our Facilities team.

Chaplain Anne Weaver shares, “Lila, longtime member of Forest Hills Mennonite Church, lives in Personal Care and hasn’t been able to attend church in person during the pandemic. During Lent, the pastoral staff at FHMC invited families and older adults, including LIila, to participate in a Lenten activity called the “40 Days of Kindness” paper chain project. Each day Lila offered a kind word, prayer, or action and then she wrote it down on a colorful piece of paper and added it to the chain. One day I visited with Lila and she was taping the most recent act of kindness to her chain. She told me that the week before Easter, someone from church would collect her paper chain and hang it in the sanctuary with all the other paper chains during the Easter service. She lamented that she would not be able to see all the paper chains. I offered to bring my IPad the day after Easter to show her the church service uploaded to YouTube. She delighted in seeing the faces of people from her church, she sang along with the songs she knew, and marveled at the sight of all the paper chains decorating the sanctuary. She hopes that someday she can return to the church to worship among them and expressed gratitude for all the ways that they stay in touch with her.”

We join with all the affiliates of @Landis Communities in wishing you a happy Easter. We are so thankful for our team members who are serving today!