(Note: This is the second in a monthly series of "Living the WesleyLife Way" blog posts that spotlight extraordinary team members, residents, and clients. This month's post features Kathy Wright, a resident assistant at The Village, a WesleyLife community in Indianola, Iowa.)
When Kathy Wright's mother died from complications of dementia, Kathy experienced the feelings that one would expect to feel upon the loss of a close family member.
But when the feelings lasted longer than she was comfortable with, Kathy decided to do something about them.
"There was an emptiness that I couldn't fill, and I knew I needed to fill it - and that's really why I feel God led me to The Village," Kathy says. "I channel that emptiness into helping people who might feel the same way, and then we both have a fullness that we didn't have before."
Kathy has served The Village in resident-care roles for four years. Village Executive Director Heather Frank (pictured above with Kathy and Kathy's dog, Toodles) says Kathy's loving, caring nature creates discernible and continual joy in the lives of those she serves.
"Kathy exemplifies what it means to have a servant's heart," Heather says. "She does so many things out of the goodness of her heart that are not part of her job description, and that she doesn't get paid to do!
"For instance, she takes it upon herself to help decorate our assisted living public areas and does a beautiful job, and she takes care of our planters and front entrance at Christmastime. She wants all who visit The Village to have a positive first impression, and she wants the community to look and feel like 'home' for those who live here.
"But her giving nature is also extended individually; when it's close to a resident's birthday, she asks that resident what they'd like her to bake - no matter how complicated! - and she does it. And she buys each of them a personal gift, usually a pretty nightgown or nice pajamas, so they'll feel special."
Kathy says the baking can be time-consuming, but the smiles on the faces of the residents who receive her special treats are worth the time she puts into them.
"One of our founding residents, Eleanor, doesn't have family members close by; her son lives in Oregon and can't come back often, and she gets lonely," Kathy says. "I asked her if I could bake something to cheer her up, and she reluctantly - because she worried it would be too much trouble - asked for a German apple cake.
"I brought it to her with a nightgown, and she had big tears in her eyes -- from something so small and so easy for me to do. It's humbling to be able to affect someone's life that way."
Heather is quick to highlight additional ways Kathy gives of herself to The Village; she bakes treats for her fellow team members, including breakfast muffins, rum cakes at Christmas, cinnamon rolls, and - Heather's personal favorite - avocado toast. She organized "Chat with Kathy," a group designed to help residents in assisted living get to know one another (over homemade baked goods, of course). And she frequently brings her pup to interact with residents.
"Toodles is soft and small enough to cuddle, and the residents enjoy petting her and watching her run around," Kathy says. "My goal is to bring smiles to their faces, and animals always seem to do that."
Kathy says although she's at an age at which many people choose to retire, she can't imagine leaving her job - "not quite yet, anyway."
"I have a love for all of God's people, and I love to make them happy," she says. "This wonderful place gives me so many opportunities to do that.
"I can't imagine a place that is more filled with love - so why not add to that every day?"
