Ruth Hill, Mountain Shadows Foundation Board of Directors, and former MSCH-Riverside RN Health Care Coordinator, blows bubbles to the delight of resident, Kareli. |
by Sheryl Wilde Adventure is Out There!
~Charles Muntz from the Movie, “Up”
Adventure was the word of the day at the Riverside Annual Picnic where Mickey and Minnie Mouse roamed, magic fueled the imagination, the smells of down-home cooking tickled the senses, and smiles reigned. |
Wonder lights the eyes as Anthony, the Magician, entertains at the MSCH-Riverside Picnic. |
“There was a lot of smiling,” says Olivia Garcia, MSCH-Riverside. “Everybody really enjoyed the picnic.”
The Riverside Annual Picnic, held at the Veterans Memorial Park, was attended by 150 friends of Mountain Shadows – residents, family members, and staff. |
MSCH-Riverside resident, Ty’marri, is enthralled by the magic show. |
“We had a Disney theme this year,” says Janet Steen, MSCH-Riverside. “Mickey and Minnie Mouse were one of the many highlights of the day. All of the little kids and residents were so excited to see them!” |
Mickey and Minnie Mouse pose with MSCH-Riverside resident, Danielle. |
“All of the homes created easy-ups with Disney movie themes,” adds Janet. “Everyone did an amazing job!” Adds Olivia, “The residents in each of our houses picked a Disney movie and decorated their easy-ups and dressed in costumes. They all did a great job!
“We had a contest for best easy-up and there was a tie! Miramar house did the movie “Coco” and Maverick house did “Up” – and they were both great. Each house won a pizza party!” |
Face painting at the MSCH-Riverside picnic |
“Ruth Hill setup a booth for games and all of the kids really enjoyed that,” says Olivia. “She had games like Twister, Jenga, and bean bag tosses. There were so many fun games! Ruth played games with all the kids and they all had a blast.” |
Joy lights the face of MSCH-Riverside resident, Oscar. |
“The food was incredible,” adds Olivia. Janet does all of the cooking for the event.
“I love cooking,” says Janet. “We had brisket, we had ribs, we had links and hot dogs, we had potato salad, and baked beans. Then we had popcorn, and cotton candy, and ice cream, and churros – we did it really big!
“The residents’ families were so impressed with what we were doing. Some of the families, it was their first time being at the picnic. And they were just amazed. They really enjoyed the food. They kept going back to get more churros, more brisket, more ribs – everything!
“That ‘s what the picnic is all about. For our residents to come out, to be with their families in a different setting. And the residents really, really, really enjoy being with their families.” |
Marshall, Janet’s son, at the food table |
“The whole day was just a lot of fun,” says Olivia. “One of the highlights is when the residents family members come to the picnic and enjoy the day with us. It’s always great to see them in person, to make that personal connection with the families and residents and staff all together. We are caring for their loved ones. I think it helps build the bond between all of us. It makes us closer and builds trust.”
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MSCH-Riverside resident, Virginia. |
Olivia continues, “I’ve been working at Mountain Shadows for 13 years now, and I’ve brought my kids to every single picnic. It’s such a nice experience. My kids get to see my world, and the kids we work with. It gives them a better understanding of what we do here. And my family loves to come! They’ve never missed a picnic – ever! “Last year, I had to leave the picnic early to go to a wedding – and my family stayed at the picnic! They stayed until the end – without me – because they enjoyed it so much! “Sometimes it is hard to explain what we do to people who don’t work here. The picnic is nice because it gives the employee’s families a chance to see and understand the needs of our residents.” |
“We also had a petting zoo, which was really fun,” says Olivia. “Some of our residents really enjoyed that. They got to touch and hold the animals. They had some really cute animals – ducks, rabbits, even a pig!” |
MSCH-Riverside resident, Jassiel, enjoying a special moment at the picnic. |
“The picnic is a lot of work – and it’s really a team effort,” says Olivia. “I want to thank the whole administrative team here in Riverside. The team just pulls it all together. Everybody does their part.
“Everybody helps. They set everything up in the morning. They push the residents in their wheelchairs all day. They clean up after the picnic. Horace from maintenance comes every year. He does all of the wires and electric hookups for us. The Escondido bus drivers – they volunteer to bring the buses here to transport all of the residents to the park and then home again. They are so great!”
Adds Janet, “And I want to thank the Mountain Shadows Board of Directors – every single one of them. I really appreciate them, and I thank them for allowing us to be able to put on this picnic each year.” |
MSCH – Resident, Kareli – a perfect smile for a perfect day! |
Adds Janet, “It really was a perfect day. Everything was perfect. The weather, the cooking, the cleanup, the laughter … everything was perfect. And everybody had a good time.” “Sometimes, it’s the smallest things
that take up the most room in our hearts.” ~Dug from the Disney movie, “Up” A smile. A laugh. Good food shared by friends and family. These are the small things that fill our hearts and make this shared adventure called life worth living. |
In the movie “Up” the story follows Carl, a 78-year-old balloon salesman. Determined to honor a promise made to his late wife, Ellie, to visit Paradise Falls in South America, Carl attaches thousands of helium balloons to his house, lifting it off the ground and embarking on his adventure. |
The Adventure is Out There! ~From the movie “Up”
Yes, the Adventure is Out There – and right here, at Mountain Shadows Community Homes – Riverside. *Photos by Tim Berger.
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The Mountain Shadows Foundation –
Because We CARE |
The Mountain Shadows CARE program provides recreational and social experiences to residents and participants adding meaning and richness to their lives. It’s easy for you to help us continue to provide activities like this – activities that improve the quality of our residents’ lives in fulfillment of their dreams. Here are some ways you can help ensure these crucial activities can continue for years to come: - Make a one-time donation today by clicking on the donate button below.
- Make a monthly or annual contribution.
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Leave a Legacy Gift.
To learn more about the Mountain Shadows Foundation Legacy Society, to include us in your estate plan, or to let us know if you have already designated Mountain Shadows to receive a legacy gift, please contact Mandy Huiras, Director of Development at: mhuiras@mtnshadows.org, or visit our website by clicking here:
Learn More About the Mountain Shadows Foundation Legacy Society Please share this story with your family, friends and co-workers to help grow our Mountain Shadows Family!
To learn more about Mountain Shadows volunteer opportunities, please click below:
Learn about Mountain Shadows Volunteer Opportunities Here
Please email comments about this story to Sheryl Wilde at: swilde@mtnshadows.org. |
Mandy Huiras Mountain Shadows Foundation
Director of Development
Contact Mandy today to learn more about the Mountain Shadows Foundation and how you can continue to make a difference in the lives of our residents:
mhuiras@mtnshadows.org |
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