1 VOICES on Goins by Ted W
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1 VOICES on goins By Ted W. Goins, Jr. | LSC president A Mighty Fortress cried at 5:45 a.m.t this morning, April 28, and be together in community! that mandate today in ways we couldn’t 2020, and that doesn’t happen often. Ad- “A Mighty Fortress” is the battle hymn of imagine before March of 2020: gowns, ministrator Marcheta Campbell sent me a the Christian Reformation, written by Mar- surgical masks, protective face shields, advo- note from the family of a resident who died tin Luther, reluctant founder of the Lutheran cating for funding, scrounging the world for after being at Trinity Village, Hickory, for faith. It begins, “A Mighty Fortress is our personal protective equipment. We found a two years. They thanked the staff for the two God, a bulwark never failing.” local company that would make hand sanitiz- years of love and care, and Each of our Lutheran Services Caroli- er; we bought $56,000 worth, a three-month what really got to me, that nas senior communities has always been supply for all of LSC! she did not die alone! Life A Mighty Fortress, loving and serving our Much about our jobs and our lives has Enrichment Assistant Doris seniors, but quietly. COVID-19 has abruptly changed, but Mighty Fortress, God, is never Pope was holding her hand shined a light on our vulnerable seniors, on failing. When Doris is holding the hand of when she died. the heroes who care for them, and on our a dying resident, when Pastor Ray is offering One of the many trage- communities. communion, when teammates are dancing dies of COVID-19 is that we cannot hold the Our communities continue to be, col- in the halls to entertain, when a teammate is hands of our parents, grandparents, etc. who lectively, A Mighty Fortress. The Lutheran bathing someone, when communities orga- live in community, even as more and more Church founded us to fulfill the biblical nize car parades and prayer parades, Lutheran elders need community living. I grieve for the vision in John 10:10: “I came that they may Services Carolinas remains a mighty fortress lost opportunities to love, hold hands, visit, have life and have it abundantly.” LSC fulfills serving A Mighty Fortress. McMullen named a Triad Nurse of Distinction Tess McMullen, administrator for Trinity Elms assist- ed living, has been recognized as a 2020 Triad Nurse of Distinction by the North Carolina Nurses Association (NCNA), a professional association for the state’s registered nurses. McMullen became a licensed practical nurse in 1996 and a registered nurse in 2002. She worked in Florida at long- term care facilities and hospitals as a pediatric nurse. In 2006, she and her family moved to Clemmons, North Carolina, and she began working for Trinity Elms in 2008. “It’s an absolute honor to be nominated, and an even bigger blessing to be able to go to a job that I absolutely love every single day,” McMullen said. On the cover: Carol Watkins, a resident at Trinity Oaks, works on an art project to help pass the time creatively during the quarantine. 2 VOICES inside voices Stepping into a new role Dylan Gunnels, a former member of LSC’s refugee services team, made a career change in January and transitioned into his new role as the South Carolina develop- ment officer. He describes himself as a local activist, community builder, and entrepreneur. He served in refugee services in Columbia, South Carolina, for three years. A lifelong resident of South Carolina, Gunnels graduated from Charleston South- ern University with a BA in theology and a minor in music. Gunnels moved to Columbia after graduation and has continued his professional career in the city he loves. He is also the founder of The Agape Table, an organization dedicated to fighting for true equity in faith spaces, with the hope that other LGBT+ individuals will not have to endure the same painful journey to discovering their true selves, their true faith, and their true community. Gunnels is excited about working with donors, individuals, and organizations with a passion for LSC’s ministry. The two joys of his life are his dogs — Samson and Delilah. When he isn’t work- ing, Gunnels loves spending time with his friends and family, being involved in his local church, hiking, river, reading, writing, and playing music. “Everyone has a voice” Galloway marks anniversary of march Walking on the Edmund Pettus Bridge inspirational and makes you feel something,” on the 55th anniversary of Bloody Sunday Galloway said. “It’s a feeling that you are made Monique Galloway feel she was walk- making a difference.” ing alongside those Civil Rights Movement Thousands of people gathered at the demonstrators who were attacked and beat- bridge to reenact the historic march, includ- en on that day in 1965. ing civil rights activist John Lewis, who was The Selma to Montgomery Marches in beaten so badly that day that he suffered a Alabama were organized by nonviolent broken skull. Also in attendance were civil activists who wanted to draw attention to rights activist Jesse Jackson, Elizabeth War- the suppression of African-American voters ren, Pete Buttigieg and Stacey Abrams. in Alabama. The march across the Edmund “You are walking with every race; every- Pettus Bridge came to be known as Bloody one is walking together, the way it should Sunday after state troopers attacked the be,” Galloway said. “It’s just so inspiring. It unarmed demonstrators with tear gas and gives you the motivation to keep doing what “We have a leader (LSC President Ted clubs. Many were injured, with 17 hospital- you are doing and reminds you that it’s very Goins) who believes in diversity. He believes ized. important to vote. Everyone has a voice.” that everybody is somebody and everybody’s Galloway, who is the minimum data set That’s also what she loves about working opinion matters; and that’s what I love about coordinator at Trinity Glen, said participat- for Lutheran Services Carolinas, that every- this organization,” she said. “He cares the ing in the march was her lifelong dream. one’s opinion matters and team members all same about everybody and that’s the way the “It just has so much symbolic meaning. It’s join together to benefit residents and clients. world should be.” JUNE 2020 3 ‘They helped me get through the rough times’ Alzheimer’s support group feeds The Rowan County Alzhei- body and soul mer’s Support Group meetings renda Richards took care of her always begin mother for almost nine years before with a meal. she passed away from Alzheimer’s disease. one— and then turns into whatever the to be able to come and have a nice meal, When they received the diagnosis, it was group needs it to be. and they are able to share with each other terrifying. Richards didn’t know anything Sometimes there’s a set topic, like games in a more intimate setting,” Dakins said. “A about the disease and quickly realized she that can be played with their family mem- lot of their loved ones have maybe passed needed some advice. Then she found the ber or financial resources that are available. on or been placed in care at this point, but Rowan County Alzheimer’s Support Group But sometimes the meeting is more of a they still feel they need to come back and that meets at Trinity Oaks senior living sharing time, so members can ask questions give back to the group about what they’ve community in Salisbury, and her whole life and discuss their feelings and give advice to been through. So I feel very blessed they still changed. each other on how to navigate the diagnosis. continue to come and get something out of “I had to take care of my mom all by “It’s a very scary diagnosis, and no two the group.” myself, so not having anyone to bounce people are alike, so that makes it even hard- things off of was a struggle,” Richards said. er. So what works for me might not work MY TURN TO BE HERE FOR “This group provided me with so much for you. That’s the benefit when a group of SOMEBODY ELSE information.” The first support group meeting that Richards attended was actually a presentation SUPPORTING CAREGIVERS given by Snow. Richards said she learned The support group, which is geared for so much that day she began attending the caregivers of those with Alzheimer’s disease meeting regularly. and other forms of dementia, meets at First, the group helped her find Trin- Trinity Oaks the fourth Thursday of every ity Living Center, which gave her some month and is supported by the western much-needed respite time during the day. chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Then it helped her connect with Department The group began about eight years ago of Social Services and get her mother qual- and is facilitated by Teresa Dakins, com- Teresa Dakins ified for Medicaid. After that, she was able munity outreach coordinator for Trinity at to get her mother a bed in a skilled nursing Home, which is located on the Trinity Oaks this size come together,” Dakins said. “You community in Spencer, North Carolina. She campus. can have a lot of different opinions and lived there for about 15 months before she “There were already two support groups thoughts on what works, what didn’t work, passed away. in the county, so we pooled our resources to what their family tried or what the doctor “This group helped me with everything.