National Volunteer Appreciation Week
April 19th-25th, 2020

As we celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Week, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our Martin Luther Campus volunteers. Volunteers play a vital role in our day-to-day operations and for that, we are grateful! While our volunteer visits have been suspended at this time, our thoughts, prayers and appreciation for them carries on. As we honor our volunteers, not only this week, but all year long, our hearts are filled with gratitude and admiration for all they are, all they do and for the unique contributions they make in our community.

When Giving Is All We Have
One river gives its journey to the next.

We give because someone gave to us.
We give because nobody gave to us.

We give because giving has changed us.
We give because giving could have changed us.

We have been better for it,
We have been wounded by it.

Giving has many faces: It is loud and quiet,
Big, though small, diamond in wood-nails.

Its story is old, the plot worn and the pages too,
But we read this book, anyway, over and again:

Giving is, first and every time, hand to hand,
Mine to yours, yours to mine.

-Alberto Rios

We share this poem in honor of our volunteers. It is a poem of thanks to those who live lives of service, which (the author states) includes all of us – from the large measure to the smallest gesture, from caregiving to volunteerism. We share these words, not only as a poem, but also as a recognition to our volunteers who give for so many reasons. For those many reasons, we, at Martin Luther Campus are grateful!

Interested in learning more about how to volunteer at Martin Luther Campus?
Visit: ​https://www.martinluthercampus.com/volunteer-opportunities.html

We asked our assisted living and memory care residents what happiness means to them. See their great answers and words of wisdom too!

A message from Chaplain Jack...
​I want to wish all of our residents, their families, our staff and their families a Happy Easter Week! Easter Week starts with Easter Sunday and ends with Sunday after Easter. It is a very important time for Christians to reflect on a foundational belief in our faith. This is when we as Christians look past the Cross and the Empty Tomb and can rejoice in our Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus.

Many traditions are found around Easter, and I know we can all remember Easter’s past with family and friends; the Easter Egg hunts, the Easter baskets with candy and of course the Easter meal we have shared together. But since the second century AD, the rejoicing celebration we have most cherished is gathering with our brothers and sisters in Christ to rejoice that we have a Savior who is alive, a Savior who reigns and a Savior who is ready to hear and answer our prayers!

So, on this Easter Week I want to wish you a blessed and happy week in our Risen Savior.

~Chaplain Jack Stanek, Director of Spiritual Care at Martin Luther Campus