Samaritan Bethany Community Connections

Winter 2021

Community Connections

A Message from our Mission Leader

10 months – so very hard to believe that we have been living with COVID for that long and as for now, an end date isn’t written. I want to emphasize living! Yes, residents miss hugging their families but we have continued to care for and love those who call Samaritan Bethany home. Everyone has done an amazing job in finding some normal in our current circumstances. As I reflect back on the past year, one of my favorite quotes that comes to mind is from Winnie the Pooh:

It is truly a reflection of how the staff and residents have lived this past year. They have found opportunities like the Thanksgiving Parade and Christmas Parade to laugh, have fun and show each other kindness – very Winne the Pooh too! The great number of window visits, virtual visits and phone calls have kept residents feeling close to their families. The packages dropped off for residents make special days have greater meaning when visits couldn’t occur. It’s been fun to see how creative families have been!

We are excited as we have had two vaccine clinics at the Home and one at Arbor Terrace. It is giving us hope that things will come back to normal at some point! We are encouraged with so many residents and staff rolling up their sleeves to be vaccinated!

As the New Year is just beginning, we are looking forward to celebrating so many events that we’ve missed this past year. We are excited to celebrate milestones and create memories. For now, until we are together again in person, we will take another Pooh quote that he shared with his friend, Piglet:

Sue Knutson,

Mission Leader

Visit our COVID-19 Updates Webpage to view the latest communications

Save the Date

Our Family

What's been happening at Samaritan Bethany

Deer Opener in Arbor Terrace

Thanksgiving Parade

Spreading the Joy of Christmas

Saying Good-bye to 2020

Walgreens Administers COVID19 Vaccinations

View More Posts

"Thank you and all the workers at Samaritan Bethany. I am amazed at the efforts and sacrifices of anyone involved in working with senior citizen over the course of this year. I wish more people would recognize your efforts by changing behaviors to help you. My family GREATLY appreciates all you have done at Samaritan Bethany. A sincere 100% thanks." - Samaritan Bethany Resident Family Member

Congratulations on your Retirement

Home on Eighth Receptionist

We express endless gratitude to Pam K. for her 27 years of support she provided to our residents, family members, and staff. Her hard work and dedication to Samaritan Bethany was greatly appreciated by many. Happy retirement Pam!

Giving Heroes

Goodie Bags by 3-5 Graders at Holy Spirit

Our Saviors Quilters Group made 800 Christmas Masks

Christmas Gift Bags by

Christ Lutheran Church

Thanksgiving Boxes by Pat

Poinsettias from Sargent's

Christmas Boxes by Auxiliary members, Sue & Dorothy

Festive Cookies from Kimberly Groteboer with RE/MAX Results

A New Partnership for Samaritan Bethany

Good News! The Samaritan Bethany Foundation has partnered with the ELCA Foundation (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America), to provide more tools to help you and our Foundation navigate the gift-giving options that can support your charitable, financial, and estate-planning goals.

We will be working with Tharan Leopold, a gift planner for the ELCA Foundation who serves the Southeastern Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can think of Tharan as a co-worker with us in our mission to raise funds to improve the lives of our residents here at Samaritan Bethany.

Tharan and Dean Stenehjem, Samaritan Bethany Foundation and Development Team Lead, can help you make a significant impact in support of Samaritan Bethany Foundation as well as any other ministries of the ELCA –such as your congregation, college or

university, seminary, or favorite church-wide ministry, like ELCA World Hunger or the ELCA Fund for Leaders.

Contact Dean if you would be interested in learning more about Charitable Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Trusts, gifts through Life Insurance Policies, gifts through retirement plans or IRA, wills, or appreciated securities.

In the spirit of giving thanks, and in unprecedented times like these, we have never been more grateful for our faithful, committed donors like many of you who have ensured that the Samaritan Bethany community continues to support, encourage and uplift one another daily.

We give thanks for the many blessings you bestow upon us!

Contact Dean Stenehjem, Foundation and Development Team Leader 507-424-5458 or deans@samaritanbethany.com

Foundation Update

The Samaritan Bethany Foundation exists to help support the mission of Samaritan Bethany by raising funds for needed projects, activities and equipment. They also spread the word about Samaritan Bethany; our needs and our mission through developing personal relationships, telling stories, social media and events.

Donors

Samaritan Bethany depends upon public donations of all sizes and amounts, to continue its work. You can help! Making a donation to the Foundation through our secure server is fast and easy, and when we receive your donation, we will send you an acknowledgement in the mail for tax purposes. Thank you for your support! For more in-formation please visit our Foundation page on our website or give directly.

Overbed Tables

As residents have to spend most of the time in their rooms now, and staff works to make their lives more comfortable, one of the things that would make life easier are Over-bed tables. While there is so much that we can’t do right now, due to the virus, here is something you can do to help our residents. Please consider making an investment in over-bed tables so our residents can make their rooms more effective and efficient. Each over-bed table costs about $500, but a contribution of any amount is appreciated. Give Directly

How to Help

By using Amazon Smile, 0.5% of your purchases will be donated to us by Amazon.

Here's how:

Just click on the link below, sign in, follow the directions, select Samaritan Bethany Inc as your charitable organization, and start shopping!

Amazon Smile

Church Partner Focus

Samaritan Bethany is supported by seven churches. Representatives from these seven churches make up the majority of the Samaritan Bethany Board of Directors. Through liaisons from each, we keep these churches aware of our mission, our needs for financial support and the volunteer opportunities available at Samaritan Bethany. Members of the congregations regularly volunteer as medical escorts, for hospice needs, as Sunday morning escorts for church services, and for the Auxiliary and gift shop. In this issue we are featuring Zumbro Lutheran Church.

Zumbro Lutheran Church

Zumbro Lutheran Church has a long history of expressing concern for its elderly population and those with special needs. As a result, it was understandable that in the early 1970’s there was a desire to build a nursing home to address those needs. In 1970, the Bethany Corporation was formed, whose membership was composed of representatives from Zumbro and four other American Lutheran Churches (now ELCA) in the Olmsted County area with that intent in mind.

In 1971 they began merger talks with the Samaritan Nursing Home Board. Samaritan had been established and was operated by the Men’s Fellowship of Peace United Church of Christ of Rochester in 1922 as an extension of the church to serve those in need. The Samaritan Board wished to expand its facilities and felt that a merger with the Bethany Corporation would give greater community participation in the operation of the Home.

Thus the Samaritan Bethany Home was established in 1973; and other local and area Lutheran congregations were invited to join this ministry of caring.

Today Zumbro Lutheran and the other Partner Churches provide leadership to the Board and Committees of Samaritan Bethany.

The Zumbro Church Council has also designated Samaritan Bethany as one of its Mission Partners.

Zumbro Lutheran Pastors faithfully visit their church members residing at Samaritan Bethany. In addition, through the ministry of Friendly Visitors and later, Care Ministers, Zumbro’s members are regularly visited, keeping their relationship with the congregation strong and vital.