By Cindy Adams

Glenn Mitchell has been an enCircle program participant since 2015, and he has acquired many friends since then, probably because he doesn’t know a stranger. He is the first to engage someone in conversation, especially a visitor. He has questions. Plenty of them. He sits with his arms and legs crossed, content as he can be, and fully focused. It’s as if he has absolutely nothing to do but leisurely chat. His easygoing, fun-loving personality quickly captivates, and the time together often results in a wedding proposal.

"Glenn is satisfied and happy, and he wants to marry everyone," said Donna Mitchell, Glenn’s sister-in-law. "When we visit, he’s always glad to see us but he is content whether we are there or not. To us, that’s a good sign."

Glenn recently relocated from a Salem group home back to Bedford, where he originally started with Lutheran Family Services of Virginia, now enCircle. He was happy to reunite with some of his friends there, particularly George Ford, one of his first Direct Support Professionals.

"He keeps his three housemates laughing," George said. "The other day, he got on the piano and just started singing. Then, he let us all know that someone was coming to pick him up and they were going to go get married. After that, they were going to Dairy Queen."

All the guys said they were going with Glenn. George said he would stay behind to tell the story!

"He’s a real character," George said. "He bonded quickly with the guys, and they really enjoy talking and laughing together. I think he likes it here."

For many years, Glenn lived with both of his parents and was served by an in-home program that was later acquired by enCircle. After his mom died, Glenn’s dad kept him at home as long as he could, but it was difficult. That’s when they reunited with enCircle, and Glenn moved into the Bedford Group Home. Now, his dad has dementia and is living in a nearby nursing home. Glenn’s brother, Micah, brings their dad to visit Glenn and sometimes it sparks his memory.

"That’s my boy," Glenn’s dad said when he visited recently. They like spending time together, and when the visit is over, Glenn throws up a hand, says "bye-bye," and happily returns to his friends.  

"This has worked out really well for our family," Donna said. "We love that Glenn lives in a home-like environment where he can sing, work puzzles, hang out with friends, color, watch TV, sit outside, take walks. He is able to do all the things he enjoys."

As you might expect, Glenn looks forward to group activities the most, particularly birthday parties, movies, and picnics. That’s where he connects with his friends and where, rest assured, he finds new ones.

"It’s an ideal place," Donna said. "He’s happy. We’re happy."

It’s a good relationship—a happy marriage.