March 3, 2010 - I want to thank you for the Jewish Pavilion and what you and your volunteers do for our elderly. My mother, Ida, is at Madison House, off Dr. Phillips Rd., and she really looks forward to the visits from Susan. Thanks again, Marion
February 26, 2010-I would like to thank all of you at the Pavilion for the wonderful support that you provide. My parents feel welcomed and part of a community. In many ways you are a life line for them. Thanks again for all the wonderful programming.
Sincerely, Peggy
December 15, 2009 – I want to express in this card about the wonderful person Gay Harrison is and how she and all the people that attended The Jewish Pavilion’s wonderful membership luncheon were to me. It was my birthday and the well wishes and smiles that I got and loving all of them saying Happy Birthday to me, was one of the most wonderful birthdays I’ve ever had, and Gay giving me a birthday present that I admired. Love, Alice Schnur
October 16, 2009: We appreciate your wonderful visits to see our mom, a resident of Westminster Towers Health Center, in downtown Orlando. Under the circumstances she is doing reasonably well. Thank you again for your visits, both at holiday time and others. Les, Faith & Ella S.
October, 2009: The years that my parents lived at The Heritage was enriched by the Jewish Pavilion’s presence. Thank you. Vicki C.
June 8, 2009: The Heritage at Lake Forest “We have received excellent support from The Jewish Pavilion here at The Heritage at Lake Forest. Your support not only supports but improves our programs for all our Jewish residents. We have regular Jewish services, a monthly Shabbat dinner, planted a fig tree for TuBishvat, and had Purim, Passover and Hanukkah programs. These programs are not only enjoyed by our Jewish residents but by all who attended.
Sylvia Lormann
Director of Activities
July 3,2009: Savannah Court ” Our residents, both of Jewish faith or not, have holiday programs, Shabbat services and one-on-one visits with the volunteers from the Jewish Pavilion. ”
Rich Besser
Activities Director Coordinator
June 12,2009: I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your writing. My mom had such a great time when you took pictures. She looks forward to Kimberly’s visits with Shomer. ” He is so clean and well behaved! ” We are also aware of the good deeds of the Jewish Pavilion and your volunteers and can’t tell you how much we appreciate all of you.
Resident’s Daughter- M.D.
July 13,2009: Life Care Center of Altamonte Springs “The Jewish Pavilion has been generous in offering entertainment during holidays that brighten everyone’s spirits. Not only our Jewish population but some residents of other faiths have expressed interest in coming to the services; we appreciate thier un-selfish efforts.”
June McLinden
Director of Activities
June 10,2009: Horizon Bay “We are really appreciative of the work done by the Jewish Pavilion at our Community and over the years our residents have received great strength and support from the group.”
Corrine Eubanks
Excutive Director
May 26, 2009: Thank you so much for sending the clown! He is wonderful. The residents in our Memory Care were enthralled by him. He kept their attention throughout his entire show – impressive! What a wonderful gift and blessing is laughter! Thank you, Brenda S., Memory Care Director.
Mar 10, 2009: Thank you so much for thinking of me & my family during this time. I really appreciate your thoughfulness. I hope you are doing well. All the best. Joanne B.
Mar 4, 2009: I really appreciate when the Jewish Pavilion comes to see us. This is especially because there are so few Jews in this place [facility]. It means so very much to me. Thank you. Thank you! Hannah F.
Nov 5, 2008: “MY STORY” by Willie the Clown (Bill K) I am a volunteer for The Jewish Pavilion. My job is to make the residents in every Pavilion facility laugh. Well, they can either laugh at me or with me. It doesn’t matter as long as I can bring a smile to their faces. Once, I helped an old woman sit on a couch. She said she had always wanted to sit on a clown’s lap. I told her after the show, I would make her dream come true. During the show, I offered a $1,000,000 bill with my clown’s face on it if someone could answer a question. The woman who I had helped to the sofa won the $1,000,000. After the show, I sat down next to her so she could sit on my lap. She said, “Get away from me. You’re just after me for my money!” So, who has more fun—them or me? I think it’s a toss up, but I hope they have a lot of fun watching a silly old man make a fool of himself!
Nov 5, 2008: Steve S. holds the hand of Lucy, a Jewish long-term care resident at Conway Lakes Health & Rehab Center in Orlando. Steve said, “She reminded me of my grandmother.” The blanket keeping Lucy warm was knitted for her by Jewish Pavilion volunteer Lillian T. Lucy was thrilled about his visit. Lucy’s daughter called while Steve was there, and Lucy told her daughter that family had come to see her. Without Jewish Pavilion involvement, Lucy would be completely cut off from the Jewish community. Steve said after the visit, “Nothing in my Jewish Pavilion experience has been more rewarding than to have been welcomed by one of the residents served by The Jewish Pavilion. I was humbled by Lucy’s pure and very real appreciation of such a simple visit, and I am more determined than ever to make certain the work done by the Pavilion not only continues but also grows and strengthens throughout the years.”
Sept 17, 2008. My brother Les, sister-in-law Ella and I would like to thank the Jewish Pavilion for their ongoing visits to our mother, Sarah. She is in the Health Center at Westminster Towers and has been there for about four years. Your visits are greatly appreciated. Faith S.
August 20, 2008: I think you are aware of my great appreciation of the support that the Jewish Pavilion provided in our time of need. As you have probably heard many times from others with their own stories, The Pavilion and it’s volunteers not only gave hope and compassion to my mother, father, and family, but provided a much needed and welcomed Jewish sense of comfort and concern when things seemed bleak and hopeless in strange and uncertain surroundings. The advice and suggestions given us by The Jewish Pavilion and its wonderful staff were invaluable. The situation would have been overwhelming for my father had the people associated with The Jewish Pavilion, not given of their time and effort. It was a true blessing for our family. Lawrence G.
August 25, 2008: I do enjoy conducting the Friday service at Chambrel and bringing a little pleasure into the lives of the residents. They are so appreciative when I come there, and I get so much gratification from it, that it is their mitzvah to me to let me lead them. Robin K.
July 02, 2008: wanted to take a moment to write and let you know how important Share the Care was for my Dad and especially my Mom. Your respite program enabled my Mom to have some time to herself when she didn’t have to worry a bit about my father. Your program provided a safe and caring environment for my father and being at the JCC was even better surroundings for my Dad. He always showed us his latest craft projects, was able to answer whether he saw the little ones at Shabbat and could tell us if he was able to read a few jokes to the visitors at Share the Care. Thank you very much for such a worthwhile program and for making a difference in our lives. Please pass this message on to the caregivers at the JCC Share the Care Program. Miriam N.
May 25, 2008 : In case you did not have a chance to see the paper today I looked and Audrey’s obit was in there and to top it off her family made a request in the obit for all donations to be made to the Jewish Pavilion, I am so very touched by this, I guess they did realize how much their Mom benefited from our outreach program and thought you both would want to know this. Hugs, Ellen H.
May 16, 2008: Each time I make my visit I try to think about what [one particular] resident would like to hear. I know the communication is a challenge because she does not speak English only Spanish. Fortunately, I speak Spanish which made it easier for us to communicate. This pleased her very much. What I found interests her is Spanish songs. She likes to sing with me and I have found that she helps me finish a song that I keep forgetting the words to. Every once in a while I speak with her daughter who is appreciative of my visits. Corie G.
May 09, 2008: When I learned that one of the residents of the Pavilion at Crossing Pointe was a Holocaust survivor, I wanted my 12-year-old daughter to see her as a “witness”. The next time Rachel was with me, Anna sat down with us, even though I hadn’t asked, and told us her story — something we should never forget. Laurie L.
May 09, 2008: When we were visiting Alice one day, one of the nurses asked Alice who Evan was. She told him that Evan was her grandson. Then, she said to the nurse, I guess that he is not really my grandson, but I see him every week and feel so close to him, whereas I hardly know my real grandson. Evan invited Alice to his bar mitzvah. We arranged for a limo driver to pick Alice up and bring her to services. She had never ridden in a fancy car before. She normally only leaves the nursing home every other month. Evan spoke about his relationship with Alice from the bima and introduced her to friends and family. It was a very special day for Alice. Nancy L.
May 05, 2008: When we were first starting at Merrill Gardens (then Chancellor Park), we were holding High Holy Day services. I had a gentlemen with a severe case of Altzheimer’s Disease; to the extent that he was totally non-communicative. He just sat in his wheel chair and drooled. In the middle of services he started singing the prayers. Here he was, unable to talk, but that connected him. Needless to say, I (and most of the other people present) got a chill up our spines. I’ve been doing Merrill Gardens ever since. Phil B.
Feb. 23, 2007: Regarding your visit to my husband Gerald at the Rehabilitation Center in Winter Park, the two ladies, Pat & Arlene, were delightfully gracious & appreciated. Your good work to cheer the troubled is so appreciated. Sincerely, Rosalyn S.
