The St. Luke’s Nursing Center held their monthly auction Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. as part of their Thanksgiving celebration.
Tammy Grimm, activities director at St. Luke’s since 1999, stated that the auction was started along with many other activities to provide increased social interaction among the 115 residents of St. Luke’s.
The products up for bid are donated items including boxed foods, rugs, quilts and Precious Moments items.
Several area churches donate lap robes for the auction.
Mary Kay distributors in the area also donate cosmetic supplies to St. Luke’s for this event.
Local auctioneer Wayne Ytell, a member of the board of directors at St. Luke’s, conducts the auction.
He has been a professional auctioneer since 1956.
Real estate and farm machinery are among the many items Wayne has sold at auction over the years.
He is a 50 year resident of Carthage.
Ytell comes to St. Luke’s each year on Christmas day dressed as Santa Claus to spend time with the residents and bring them holiday cheer.
“It is very gratifying to engage the folks at St. Luke’s,” said Wayne.
“I enjoy the spark of interest the auction brings along with the occasional laugh that these wonderful people need in their lives.”
Ytell has built camaraderie among many residents whom he stated he has conducted auctions for in the past.
He stated that over half the current residents have attended his auctions in years past and know him well.
Other morning and afternoon activities are available to the residents.
The staff and residents engage in making caramel popcorn.
The resident’s council allows a popular pick as a special meal of the month.
The residents vote on their favorite meal as something not ordinarily served.
Area Chaplin Dan Erdman conducts weekly Bible studies.
The first Tuesday every month the Rev. B.J. Garber holds a church service for the residents.
Additional church services are conducted on Sunday and Wednesday each week.
Once a month the St. Luke’s staff conduct a “happy hour” wine and cheese party for the residents.
The staff organizes a men’s social event every Tuesday.
Activity dollars are given out to the residents at these various activities to be used at the auction to purchase items they want.
The residents buy products at the auction to give as gifts to family members and friends as well.
Thanksgiving dinner was served to residents and their families Thursday as part of the November holiday festivities.
Director Grimm noted that a larger than usual crowd attended the Thanksgiving feast this year.
This month the residents were also invited to participate in the making of ginger bread houses.
During the Christmas season, many schools and church groups come to sing Christmas carols to friends and family.
Assisted living resident Barbara Zaerr commented about her involvement with the auction and other activities.
“I’m a full fledged supporter of St. Luke’s,
The activities are very important.” She said.
“The staff does a fine job with these activities.
They do the best job of any care facility that I’ve seen.”
She noted that some of the ladies who have been to auctions in the past come out and play price wars with one another on favored items.
“They know how to work it,” She said.
“I can tell they’ve been to auctions.
They know what they are doing.”
Another activity provided to the residents is clipping coupons for U.S. military troops and their families abroad.
The staff learned of this opportunity to help military families over seas from The American Legion website of Greenbelt, Maryland.
Local churches bring in the coupons donated to St. Luke’s.
They are separated into food and non-food products.
Grimm stated that once clipped, the coupons are collected and mailed to military families in Yokohama, Japan as well as Vilseck, Germany.
The coupons are very appreciated by the service men and their families as they are allowed to redeem them up to three months after normal expiration in the U.S.
Grimm stated this idea has been very good for the residents.
Using scissors has helped the men and women maintain dexterity in their hands.
Another item recently donated to St. Luke’s by family members of a former resident, is a Nintendo Wii System.
Once a month the staff help the residents practice bowling, tennis, swimming and other sports as a means of maintaining their mobility.
Grimm commented that learning the new technology is a fun experience for the residents.
