Vaccinations & Our Guiding Values — Reflections from Donna Mack Shenk

The following reflections were shared by Donna Mack Shenk, Director of Pastoral Services, at this week’s meeting with Department Directors and Supervisors.  She looks back on how our recent vaccination clinic reflects our guiding values of Joy, Compassion, Integrity, Stewardship, and Community. 

We waited, with expectation, some patiently….
And then the good news came,
our hearts leaped with JOY.
Excitement filled the air.  
Team members celebrated. 
Vaccines were coming to Residential Living
and the community rejoiced.

A zoom meeting was held, plans were made,
Team members signed up
mindful of being good STEWARDS of time,
Random selection of residents done
Phones began buzzing, residents receiving the long a waited call,
Responses of joy, and even tears, relief was on the way.

Thursday, March 4, tape on the floor,
six feet apart, with privacy dividers all four,
protecting INTEGRITY of all.
12:00 noon Hershey Care arrives, action begins. 
Vaccines fill syringes, carefully, accurately.
Volunteers don colorful hats,
flowers given to brighten the table,
everyone in place, ready to go.
Residents gather, grateful hearts,
a song of joy fills the air. 

1 pm is here, team members guide residents,
review papers, check cards,
COMPASSION at every step. 
Pharmacist’s four, pharmacy techs 3,
team members 15, residents 323,
one by one, receive a vaccine,
kindness shown, and community at its best! 
Azalea dining room ready,
compassionate nurses waiting-receive vaccinated residents all a buzz.  
Watchful eyes, kind hearts, do their part,

4:20 pm we cross the finish line
tired bodies and minds, grateful hearts
Individuals caring for self and neighbor,
as vaccines were received and compassion flowed……
Community at its best!

Living in Hope, serving with integrity, ready for new life springing up, leading us on, stewards of well-being. 

I will end with a quote and the credit goes to Haruki Murakami:

And once the storm is over, you won’t believe how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over.  But one thing is certain, when you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in.  That’s what this storm’s all about. 

Courage and strength to each one of you as we continue to live out our guiding values, moment by moment.