By Margarent Nimmo Holland
As our partners at Marian Homes work their way through the renovation punch list on our new Group Home in Fairfax, we are celebrating the many details that make this home special. It was designed with our future residents’ specific needs and comfort in mind.
We were incredibly touched to find that 94-year-old Theresa Fruet had made unique afghan blankets for each resident of the house. Ms. Fruet is the mother of Chris Chaisson, a friend of Marian Homes’ former board member Bill Crowder and his wife Mary. She has been crocheting blankets for 50 years to benefit people in her community—giving them to residents of nursing homes, homeless shelters, and the other group homes built by Marian Homes. Her family estimates she has made more than 1,000 afghans!
"She puts a lot of love into each one and is so pleased to hear that they still bring joy to someone who needs a bit of joy in their lives," said her daughter. "So thank you for what you do to provide a wonderful home for these special people and for including Mother in you plan to make them comfortable and happy."
On the practical side, the house is one-story with wide doorways and accessible bathrooms, meaning we can serve people who use wheelchairs. Our residents will be able to “age in place,” which provides peace of mind for residents and their families.
The bedrooms have special windows that are easily opened with no obstructions (divisions or screens) and large enough to allow first responders to enter from the ground with their equipment and evacuate residents quickly in case of emergency.
Clearly, the thoughtfulness and expertise of many community members are on display throughout the house, and all of us at enCircle are eager to welcome our new residents.
If you would like to help support our new Group Home in Fairfax, please contact Melissa Leecy, our Director of Philanthropy, at mleecy@enCircleAll.org.
