Brainerd Baptist Church is in a league of its own when it comes to volunteer service to Life Care Centers of America, a local facility director said.
The congregation’s members prove that weekly through the scope of their volunteering, according to Christian McDonald, activities director and volunteer coordinator at Life Care Center of East Ridge.
The church was honored recently with Life Care Centers of America’s national Group Volunteer Award at the company’s annual management meeting awards dinner in Cleveland, Tenn. Group leader Traude VanBuskirk accepted the honor.
The award is presented annually and the winner selected from volunteer groups from every region and division — covering 230 skilled nursing and rehabilitation facilities in 28 states — within Life Care.
McDonald said Brainerd Baptist volunteers have served Life Care of East Ridge for more than 20 years but also serve Life Care of Missionary Ridge and NHC of Chattanooga.
At East Ridge, according to Life Care officials, some eight church volunteers meet with residents weekly, offer a worship service for 20 to 30 people, send greeting cards and bring food for residents and staff members.
“They’re living out Christ’s example — living it out to the world,” said Chris Moses, senior adult pastor at the church. “They’re being, maybe, Jesus to the world.”
He said the volunteers do similar things at the other two facilities.
McDonald said the homemade treats several of the volunteers make are “to die for,” especially the chocolate cupcakes with cherry pie filling and the vanilla cupcakes with Hershey’s Kisses tucked inside.
“They’re incredible with the time and effort they spend,” she said.
McDonald said this is the second year in a row a volunteer group at Life Care Center of East Ridge has won the national Group Volunteer Award. Notre Dame High School won last year’s award, and the Positive Christian Singles at First-Centenary United Methodist Church was a division winner in the category several years ago, she said.
“We’re blessed to have as many fabulous groups as we have,” she said. “That’s reflected in the number of awards our volunteers have won.”