United Presbyterian Home news: Sending disaster aid north

The Washington United Presbyterian Church, in cooperation with the Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church, coordinated a food drop-off to Cedar Rapids residents affected by the derecho storm on Monday. Several U.P. Home residents, including Mary Atwood, Linda Boston, Jean Frazer and Diana Henry joined other church members and helped in the preparation and/or donated food. Approximately 400 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were prepared and packed in lunch bags, along with chips, an apple and a dessert. Bottled water was also donated. The packaged meals were taken to Cedar Rapids on Friday by Pastor Erin Kaye, and distributed to those in need. Mary Atwood summed it up well, 'It feels good to have actually done something physical that was extremely needed at that time.”

It is harvest time in the United Presbyterian Home garden and residents are reaping the benefits of labor supplied by Carl Chalupa, Mike McGuire, Larry Bartlett and many other volunteers who care for the community garden. A multitude of fruits and vegetables are planted for the purpose of sharing with residents who don't have a garden of their own. Sweet corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, onions, watermelon and cantaloupe are some of the foods distributed to doors. Dietary staff members diced up huge watermelons fresh from the garden and delivered to the doors of apartment and cottage residents this week. It was delicious.

The following article was written by Esther Bordwell in tribute to her friend Mary Holmes who passed away last week, just days following her 100th birthday.

A tribute to Mary Holmes, RN

Director of Brownlee Health Center, 1965-1985.

She hired many CAN's to work for her during those years. Mary taught us nursing skills, good patient care and how to work together. She was firm but fair. She comforted families when patients died. She remains a special lady we will never forget.