I've apparently been reading WAY too many wonderful posts. I wanted to honor the person that gave me this idea in a post and I can't find it---I need some HELP! Hold on, I got it! It kept me up all night but the genius of this idea was Andrew Lenza and here is his blog: Pay it Forward: Write a Localism Blog for a Non Profit Organization in Your Area. THANK YOU, ANDREW!!
I have always wanted to give back and help an organization or some place or people on Long Island that are in need. And there are many of them. Seniors, in particular want to stay because of children and relatives and have such a difficult time with rising taxes and the expense to live here. I took over as Director of the Long Island Chapter of The International Feng Shui Guild with one purpose: to gather the support of other like-minded consultants and do a project that would benefit people.
Long Island has a considerable number of Feng Shui Consultants, yet after emails and phone calls, I only ended up with two Consultants who wanted to help. As Director, however, it was my responsibility that this project go off without a hitch...I drove to many places on the Island looking for something just the three of us could "pull off." I was getting discouraged and most discouraging was an email I opened one evening from the Guild. It was discouraging me from doing the project at ALL in "case it was a flop." I was crushed. (The Guild heard the passion and decided to take a chance on me :)
I LOVE timing, it is everything. And it was just at that moment that my son came home. One look at my face and he asked me what was wrong; I told him. I won't use his exact language but he said we would do it on our own; HE HAD JUST JOINED THE TEAM. Gotta love these kids. He came home from work early the next day and I was to go look at a place I thought we may be able to help. Now that he was on board, he came along. The place was called The Jones Manor and is located in Bayville, Long Island in the town of Oyster Bay. It is a beautiful area on the North Shore and a beach community, right on the Water.
To condense this story, this place is run strictly on donations. It is a home for the elderly and frail and oftentimes they are left there and no one even comes to visit. A number of rooms were in need of repair and they said whatever we could do would be appreciated. Just a room. What struck us both was the LOVE the staff had for these residents. They were either strictly volunteer or minimum wage workers who were there because they CARED. And apparently forgotten by the Community as well.
We were almost at the end when they showed us the outside deck. It sits right on the water and was broken and unsafe and the residents were not allowed to use it! They could not go outside and no one is helping these people? We had to sit down with the "Board" members after that to see if we could do anything and I had to check with two other consultants. My normally quiet son spoke up "I'm fixing that DECK." Wait, you can't fix the deck, I need you to paint. He was adamant and told the board members; I don't know when I've seen him so upset at what he saw and so passionate about something.
He fixed that deck alone, rebuilt it and did it to Code which we were unaware of. In addition, the Conference room was painted and fixed up, the hallway which was a "library" was changed, the smoking room was painted and we set up a new, inviting place for the residents to gather. All with a little Feng Shui thrown in. Word got out, people started to donate their time, some money and come to visit with residents long forgotten by their own families. That was last August, 2006. From the ENERGY of three Feng Shui Consultants and one terrific son. In speaking to their director recently, help has not been coming in. They are being forgotten yet again.
They are non profit and The Jones Manor will always need help. If you live in the area, if you have a talent to teach the seniors, if you want to adopt one, bring a pet in, make a donation, this is a very worthy cause. For before and after shots you can visit my website at http://www.FengShuiLI.com under "Community" page. Keep the Love Alive in The Jones Manor.
Carole, This is a very heartfelt and touching story....I'm so proud of you and your son and the others that helped out. I hope this blog gets seen by the right people now and they will step forward to do things for Jones Manor
I remember seeing the post you are talking about, however I can't remember who wrote it either.
Jo
Carole....was that the post where you posted pictures and had us give our opinions? If so perhaps it was a comment on that post that led you to the idea?
What a terriffic son...you must be so proud!
You and your son are very compassionate people. This is a wonderful and touching story and I am very proud to know you. It is very sad that old people are sometimes put away and seemingly forgotten. How can anyone send a parent or grandparent away and just forget about them? I just do not understand, so very, very sad. These people are very fortunate that all of you came to their home and showed you cared with "deeds" not words.
Jo, It was Andrew Lenza's amazing idea; kept me up half the night trying to remember but I have wanted to get back there and didn't have time all summer. It worked last year, I would LOVE to get their name out again!
Candy, My son was SO upset that these people were in such a beautiful place and essentially "locked in." Thank goodness he is such a great handyman, that deck was almost rebuilt.
Joan, I catch people's posts and make a note and then I forgot who to credit. Thankfully I remembered. I was so grateful to my son and proud of him for stepping up without even being asked!
Hi Adam, The people that live in Bayville have never heard of it, either and it's such a shame, they need help! Here's a bit of history for you: The Jones Manor was started from a trust left by Samuel Jones (of Jones Beach "Fame."). In his will he allotted $15,000 (quite a sum in the late 1800's) to a board for a non profit elderly residence. And it's still going strong. --- In contrast he left his wife $1,000 per year AND the SHEETS. He later amended the will down to $800.00 a year, still with the sheets :) They must have been 500ct!
Lysa, I loved the people who stepped forward and can't imagine what we could have created if more people did. But just getting the word out on them can inspire some local people who catch this and that's what I'm hoping for. I have pictures but know I should have put them in the blog, they are still on my website. If I can get back and amend this post I can show some!
Lisa, I was kind of thrown off that he was so passionate about helping, it was wonderful to see. And it was also the first time we've done something like that together and we both loved it!
Cynthia, Unfortunately they do that all the time. I think of other cultures where the elderly are revered for their knowledge but not here, everyone is too busy. Some of these people could really use a visitor and they always are in need of help. The truly compassionate step forward and that's what their staff is comprised of, they love these residents and it shows.
Jason, He sure did step up on this one. It started to be because I wanted to do it and it ended up being to help these wonderful people. They now have bbq's and can watch the sunset reflecting on the water from OUTSIDE!
Teri, I get updates all the time from the Executive Director, Barbara Edwards. That deck is well used and loved, imagine that they can watch the sunsets over the water. It was a wonderful project and I loved working with my son and the others.
Robert, Thank you, he hasn't even seen this yet. I am proud of him for speaking first and stepping up.
Diane, I thought that post of Andrew's was a wonderful idea to help any non profit. Once you get the word out, there are people in the community that may not even be aware of places that need help. I plan to go to a soup kitchen I am thinking of and write about that, perhaps people will come to help. And thank you for your beautiful comment.
Robert, No, I have't seen them. I will try to find her, do you have a last name? Thanks so much for your comment, you take absolutely amazing pictures!
Katerina, You're so sweet. It was a beautiful day when we first went and I think both of us were shocked these poor people had to be kept inside. He did a beautiful job; he would never admit it but under his "tough exterior" he's got a heart of gold.