A sensitive subject for many residents and family members, Doris Witmer shares what it is like to be the person communicating with beneficiaries of the Caring Fund and their families.
Initiated in 1993 by the late Francis & Elsie Harvey, the Caring Fund provides benevolent care to residents whose financial resources have become limited. In 2018, 71 individuals were supported with benevolent funding.
In 2019 Landis Homes celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Caring Fund. Doris Witmer, who oversaw the qualifying process for benevolent care for several years, shared a little about her conversations with those who applied for assistance.
“Residents or their family members usually come to me when their assets are about to be depleted. I ask them for documentation and then take it to the Stewardship Committee. Sometimes the committee has more questions, but after those are answered, they make the decision on whether the person is approved for benevolent funding,” Doris says.
A sensitive subject for many residents and family members, Doris shares what it is like to be the person communicating with beneficiaries of the Caring Fund and their families.
“Most of the families are good about it although it can be a difficult process. Sometimes, relatives don’t tell their loved ones they’ve run out of money, because they don’t want to stress them out. Often, family members are just grateful for the loving care their relative receives from team members, and it becomes more about that than the money or lack thereof,” Doris answers.
Thanks to generous donors over the last 25 years, many residents have benefited from the Caring Fund. On May 23, 2019, a celebratory event in the High Foundation Auditorium brought together people who helped make benevolent care possible. Attendees included members of the following giving groups: The Towel & Basin Legacy Circle, Sustaining Partners, 21st Century Leaders, and the Corporate Circle.
One of the biggest reasons donors continue to support the Caring Fund is because of the care and compassion shown by team members. We are very grateful for all their hard work!
