As we kick off the new year, we want to celebrate one of the newest additions to the M.A.D. Club family from 2018: Light of Hearts Villa assisted-living home in Bedford, Ohio!
Since the summer, Founder Madison Wagner has been developing the start of a small chapter at LOHV so that the residents could participate in easy projects that make an impact. The LOHV team was thrilled with the idea.
To start, Clubians at the Gilmour Academy Chapter decided to spend some time with the residents by volunteering at the annual Halloween Party at the end of October. Our volunteers were a hit and the residents didn't stop talking about the party for weeks! They begged for more, and of course, we delivered!
On Monday, December 10th, 2018, M.A.D. Club hosted a special Christmas party at LOHV for all of the residents. It was a wonderful event no one will soon forget --- residents and volunteers alike. The party kicked off with some performances from some members of the Gilmour Academy Pops Ensemble: residents bobbed along to "Up On The Housetop" and "Jingle Bells". In between songs, M.A.D. Club volunteers raffled off some exciting holiday-themed prizes to the residents and passed out cookies and other fun deserts.
However, the favorite activity of the party was a special reading of The Night Before Christmas with M.A.D. Club's special guest --- Santa Claus! Santa popped in to greet nice and naughty residents alike and gave them goodies and treats before reading this Christmas classic. To make it extra meaningful, Mr. Claus asked one of the residents to join him in the reading! Father Tom O'Donnell sat with Santa on the Light of Hearts Villa stage and the two took turns, much to the delight of the residents. A heart warming delight: some residents knew the story by heart and recieted it along with them!
Christmas magic was truly in the air! Wagner comments that this was one of her favorite events of 2018 and will certainly be a day to remember.