One card at a time, residents at Parkway Place, pour their hearts out, meticulously designing, decorating and inscribing special Valentine’s Day cards for Houston’s finest currently serving in the military overseas. A dozen residents in their 70s, 80s and 90s meet twice a week to make the cards by hand. They expect to send at least one hundred cards to the troops in time for Valentine’s Day. The residents typically make cards for family and friends, and this is the first time they are spreading their love to soldiers.
“We want to show them that someone cares,” said Sallie Howard, 77-year-old Parkway Place resident. “We need to support them and let them know that we are thinking about them. I had three cousins who served in World War II, and I remember my mother frequently writing them letters. We would always get letters back saying how much they appreciated hearing from her. I know that our cards will brighten their day!”
Parkway Place is asking residents for the names of friends and family currently overseas to add to its list of recipients. The residents feel particularly passionate about this since many of them know people serving or have veterans in their families.
“I empathize with them. I think about how scared I would be, and I do not know if I would have the courage to do that or not,” said Howard. “All of them are brave or they wouldn’t be there. They have to give up their family life and make a lot of sacrifices. I want them to know that we stand behind them.”
The cards are “Iris Cards” that involve a lot of color, patterns, folding and different materials. Each card is like a piece of art hand designed by each resident. The Parkway Place volunteer, who directs the program, has over 200 patterns that she shares with the residents to make the cards. She has plenty of heart shaped patterns for the residents to use for Valentine’s Day.
“It is rewarding to see the ladies’ reaction to what they can create with their own hands,” said Shirley Barnes, Parkway Place volunteer. “I know we will all find a lot of fulfillment in making the cards for our troops. I have a grandson who is getting ready to go into the Army. I am all for it, and I think the cards will make a difference.”
The staff is also excited about the chance to impact the lives of the troops. Parkway Place provides all of the materials necessary to make the cards, and the staff enjoys seeing what the residents create.
“I think the cards are very impressive,” said Rhonda Duncan, life enrichment director for
Parkway Place. “The residents always receive amazing feedback from their family members when they send out the cards. I know the troops will feel the same love when they receive the handmade cards in the mail.”
ABOUT PARKWAY PLACE
Parkway Place in Houston, a Buckner Retirement Services community, is a non-profit, faith-based senior living community located on a 15-acre well-manicured campus that includes flowers, walking paths, gazebos, benches and raised gardens, putting green, with an outdoor, heated pool and spas. It is also one of the few Independent Living communities in West Houston that has no entrance fees, no long-term contracts and provides spacious apartment residences on a rental basis.
As a continuing care community, Parkway Place offers Independent Living apartment residences, spacious Assisted Living, innovative Memory Care and Skilled Nursing services. The community offers 159 independent apartments, 58 assisted living apartments, 24 memory care support residences and skilled nursing for 60 residents. A new Wellness Center has been added that features state-of-the-art equipment and a Health Ability Program to enhance the eight dimensions of wellness
Residents can enjoy delicious dining and warm fellowship in beautifully arranged dining rooms. The community also has an on-site life enrichment coordinator, chapel, full-time chaplain, on-site worship services, beauty/barber salon and weekly housekeeping/linen service. For more information about Parkway Place, please visit the community website at www.bucknerparkwayplace.org or call Susan Coborn at (281) 677–5912.
“We want to show them that someone cares,” said Sallie Howard, 77-year-old Parkway Place resident. “We need to support them and let them know that we are thinking about them. I had three cousins who served in World War II, and I remember my mother frequently writing them letters. We would always get letters back saying how much they appreciated hearing from her. I know that our cards will brighten their day!”
Parkway Place is asking residents for the names of friends and family currently overseas to add to its list of recipients. The residents feel particularly passionate about this since many of them know people serving or have veterans in their families.
“I empathize with them. I think about how scared I would be, and I do not know if I would have the courage to do that or not,” said Howard. “All of them are brave or they wouldn’t be there. They have to give up their family life and make a lot of sacrifices. I want them to know that we stand behind them.”
The cards are “Iris Cards” that involve a lot of color, patterns, folding and different materials. Each card is like a piece of art hand designed by each resident. The Parkway Place volunteer, who directs the program, has over 200 patterns that she shares with the residents to make the cards. She has plenty of heart shaped patterns for the residents to use for Valentine’s Day.
“It is rewarding to see the ladies’ reaction to what they can create with their own hands,” said Shirley Barnes, Parkway Place volunteer. “I know we will all find a lot of fulfillment in making the cards for our troops. I have a grandson who is getting ready to go into the Army. I am all for it, and I think the cards will make a difference.”
The staff is also excited about the chance to impact the lives of the troops. Parkway Place provides all of the materials necessary to make the cards, and the staff enjoys seeing what the residents create.
“I think the cards are very impressive,” said Rhonda Duncan, life enrichment director for
Parkway Place. “The residents always receive amazing feedback from their family members when they send out the cards. I know the troops will feel the same love when they receive the handmade cards in the mail.”
ABOUT PARKWAY PLACE
Parkway Place in Houston, a Buckner Retirement Services community, is a non-profit, faith-based senior living community located on a 15-acre well-manicured campus that includes flowers, walking paths, gazebos, benches and raised gardens, putting green, with an outdoor, heated pool and spas. It is also one of the few Independent Living communities in West Houston that has no entrance fees, no long-term contracts and provides spacious apartment residences on a rental basis.
As a continuing care community, Parkway Place offers Independent Living apartment residences, spacious Assisted Living, innovative Memory Care and Skilled Nursing services. The community offers 159 independent apartments, 58 assisted living apartments, 24 memory care support residences and skilled nursing for 60 residents. A new Wellness Center has been added that features state-of-the-art equipment and a Health Ability Program to enhance the eight dimensions of wellness
Residents can enjoy delicious dining and warm fellowship in beautifully arranged dining rooms. The community also has an on-site life enrichment coordinator, chapel, full-time chaplain, on-site worship services, beauty/barber salon and weekly housekeeping/linen service. For more information about Parkway Place, please visit the community website at www.bucknerparkwayplace.org or call Susan Coborn at (281) 677–5912.