Artistry at the Alley
As the artists among us are aware, if one is setting out to paint a masterpiece, the selection of a superior canvas for the painting is vital. The selection of a high-quality canvas, which has been properly primed, is indispensable to ensuring the realism, quality, and longevity of the masterpiece.
In recent years, the team working at Riverboat Lanes has created an indispensable, superior “canvas” for individuals with disabilities to enjoy getting together on a weekly basis to enjoy bowling and visiting with friends. The canvas created by staff at Riverboat Lanes is made of high-quality materials such as an enthusiastic and friendly check-in process as well as attentiveness to the spoken and unspoken needs of the bowlers. Just as a successful artist gains a reputation for creative, consistent, high-quality work, the entire staff at Riverboat Lanes has a reputation for being accommodating and hospitable as they go the extra mile to cheerfully help with last-minute details related to post-bowling meals and birthday parties. Staff at Riverboat Lanes “prime the canvas” with an uplifting blend of humorous and respectful interaction; fictitious, fun names have been known to surprise bowlers as creative names appear on the scoreboard! The excitement of bowling coupled with visits with family and other community members add to an enriching and enduring masterpiece; a masterpiece painted on the superior “canvas” supplied by the staff at Riverboat Lanes.
Jerry McMillin
Great River Homes, Inc.
June 2024
Coming Soon!
Great River Homes Teaches the Importance of CPR Training
Galveston, Texas received hurricane warnings, which were generally ignored, on September 4, 5, 6, 7, and again on the 8th. Walking along the beach early on a seemingly peaceful morning on September 8th, 1900, in Galveston, Texas, people noticed that the water in the Gulf of Mexico had receded to unexplainable and historically low levels. At the time, it was not well understood that this “inverted storm surge” was a warning of impending disaster. Unfortunately, very little was done to prepare the city for the storm. This lack of preparation would cost them dearly as over 8,000 people would soon perish when a major hurricane hit with a storm surge of over 15th feet of water.
“This lack of preparation would cost them dearly” is a key takeaway point from the Galveston hurricane of 1900 which can and should be applied to any potential emergency. To improve emergency preparedness, individuals served by Great River Homes have been participating in CPR courses. Kris and Emily were among those who attended the course, and each commented that the course was very helpful; they found that the small-group training ensured there was ample time for individualized instruction and hands-on training. The training included the use of AED machines which are located at each of six homes in Wabasha and the two homes in Lake City.
Jerry McMillin
Great River Homes, Inc.
Wabasha-Kellogg Area Community Foundation Gift Makes an Impact
To live our best lives, each of us needs to cultivate hobbies and activities that are therapeutic for us. For many, spring is the time of year when we enjoy the great outdoors and start the process of transforming ground which was frozen tundra into a garden that fulfills our winter-long dreams.
Raised garden beds which were made possible through the financial support of the Wabasha-Kellogg Area Community Foundation have helped make gardening more comfortable and relaxing for Emily, Kris, Jeanette, and Jenny. In addition to the therapeutic value of slowing life down as one connects with nature, gardening has also been a source of pride and satisfaction for the group of ladies; harvested items are used for meals at home or shared with family and friends.
Author Myron Kauffman wrote: “Watching something grow is good for morale. It helps us believe in life.” In a very pragmatic manner, the financial support of the Wabasha-Kellogg Area Community Foundation has helped Emily, Kris, Jeanette, and Jenny believe in life!
Jerry McMillin
Great River Homes, Inc.
A Fresh Start
Author Steven Covey commented: “Synergy is everywhere in nature. If you plant two plants close together, the roots commingle and improve the quality of the soil so that both plants will grow better than if they were separated. One plus one equals three or more. Synergy is the highest activity of life; it creates new, untapped alternatives.”
Jared Peterson of Gunderson Health-St Elizabeth’s physical therapy department and Program Supervisor Tanner Linde of Great River Homes recently collaborated in a synergistic manner as they, “Planted two plants close together” and expanded the “Fresh Start” exercise program. Jared worked with co-workers at Gunderson Clinic to develop individualized exercise programs to help individuals achieve their specific fitness goals. Tanner commented that Gunderson team members were very accommodating and flexible with scheduling. Tanner worked with co-workers at Great River Homes to encourage involvement by individuals served by Great River Homes. Team members from both agencies helped create a fun, positive environment for exercise which encouraged the initial participants to keep coming back. As the program continued, “the quality of the soil” attracted additional participants when others realized how much fun individuals already in the program were having.
Amy, Christina, Mike, and Trevor are housemates who receive services from Great River Homes. During a recent visit, they enthusiastically described the synergistic impact of the program; each individual shared how being involved in the program helped increase their physical activity level, provided the opportunity to use different equipment such as a hand bike, and above all, created opportunities for experiencing new, positive and motivating relationships. Synergy often leads to unexpected results; in this case, a previously undiagnosed but significant medical condition was detected as an individual was screened for health concerns during their participation in the Fresh Start program.
If you plant two plants close together, the roots commingle and improve the quality of the soil so that both plants will grow better than if they were separated. As Amy, Christina, Mike, and Trevor participate in the Fresh Start exercise program they experience firsthand the validity of Steven Covey’s insight: “Synergy is the highest activity of life; it creates new, untapped alternatives.”
James Harrison is an Australian known as “The Man with the Golden Arm”. Over a period of sixty years, Mr. Harrison donated blood 1,173 times; His blood contains a rare, powerful antibody that helps fight a blood disease which can be fatal for babies. One donation at a time, one drop of blood at a time, it is estimated that the blood donated by Mr. Harrison played a role in saving the lives of 2.4 million Australian babies! “The Man with the Golden Arm.” illustrates the power of one action at a time making the world a better place. Likewise, one action at a time, the local Knights of Columbus help make the world a better place by receiving numerous donations, one at a time, from individuals throughout local communities for Tootsie Rolls during their annual Tootsie Roll Drive. The Knights of Columbus in Plainview, Bellchester, Lake City, and Kellogg raised a total of nearly $3,000 which has been donated to Great River Homes to help make the world a better place for people with disabilities. This year’s money will be used by Great River Homes to help offset the cost of two vehicle purchases. One of these vehicles will be equipped with the required adaptations for two passengers who use wheelchairs so these two people will be able to ride together instead of having to take two separate vehicles. The other vehicle will have two specialized seats (the front passenger, and the rear driver’s side). These seats will swing outside of the vehicle and lower so a person who has depth perception or balance concerns can safely and independently sit down in these seats and raise themselves into the vehicle using a remote control. Each of us at Great River Homes appreciate the generosity of each community member who donated to the Tootsie Roll Drive and helped make the world a better place, one Tootsie Roll at a time. We also wish to thank the Knights of Columbus for their annual donation and for making the world a better place, one year at a time, for many years!