I hate Valentine’s Day. Honestly. I’m not really sure why that is but for as far back as I can remember, it has always seemed contrived and forced. And I’m actually a romantic. Give me a sappy rom-com movie or engagement story and I’m all in. But Valentine’s Day? I’ll pass. Except for this year. Why? Because this year, the Foundation is celebrating Valentine’s Day by bringing joy to some very special senior citizens right here in Wheaton.
Did you know that just up the street is one of the most modern, professionally staffed, treatment and rehabilitation centers for the chronically ill in Illinois? Originally built in 1888 as a house for the indigent, the DuPage Care Center has been a nursing facility providing needed health care to the community since the 1930s. The Care Center aims to provide quality long-term and rehabilitation services to residents of DuPage County including needed services like speech, occupational and physical therapy.
Beyond needed services however, the Care Center also provides a great variety of fun and recreational activities to its 330+ residents. Funding for these activities is made possible in large part by the DuPage Care Center Foundation (DCCF) which strives to enhance the quality of residents’ lives by making their environment as enjoyable and home-like as possible.
FT Cares Foundation has been proud to partner with DCCF in a number of ways over the past few years. We’ve decorated, planted and donated flower pots to the Care Center’s residents. We’ve “adopted” seniors for Christmas, fulfilling their holiday wish lists with gifts like Cubs gear, handmade blankets, DVDs and restaurant gift cards.
This month, as the Foundation focuses on Senior Support, we will once again show our friends at the Care Center how much First Trust cares. In addition to a monetary donation, we have also arranged to sponsor the musical entertainment (Mel Oldies!) for their Valentine’s Day party. And because research suggests that plush animals may lower blood pressure and reduce stress for the elderly and can also be very comforting to those suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s, the Foundation is donating one Valentine stuffed animal to every resident at the Care Center!
Want to help bring even more love and joy to the residents? For a $3 donation, you can send a Valentine balloon to a Care Center resident. Visit http://www.dupageco.org/Content.aspx?id=56770 for details. You can also support the residents through the Care Center’s Cupids fundraiser https://dpccfoundation.org/care-center-cupids/
NOW it will be a Happy Valentine’s Day!
P.S. If you, or your high schooler, are looking to get involved in the community, anyone over the age of 14 may become a volunteer at the Care Center. Go to https://www.dupageco.org/convo/ and click on the Volunteer section to find out more.
