08/28/2026
When I was in first grade, I was very shy and also not the best reader, so my mom had me go into our local nursing home each week and read my Bible to the residents. I don’t remember how much I improved on my social skills or reading, but I do remember coming home with lots of candy stored in my pockets. When my kids were little, I kept up the tradition, and so I have visited quite a few different elder care facilities over the years.
This week, I went to Ave Maria here in Jamestown to help with updated photos for their website. There was such a unique spirit of community and family that I had to share a little about the experience.
At Ave Maria, there are so many ways for residents to connect: Mass, exercise rooms, a spacious library, communal TV spaces, card games, and even a pool table. In one room, residents sat around a few tables folding towels for the facility, while another resident took charge of pruning the plants. This especially appealed to me because I know I am always at my happiest when I can do physical work.
My friend Annie, a ray of sunshine, took me around the entire facility. She stopped and talked to everyone we met. Her knowledge and interest was genuine, and the residents reciprocated that friendship. It was a joy to photograph Ave Maria and to see firsthand the beauty of a place where people are truly cared for, involved, and connected.
SMP Health - Ave Maria
://www.facebook.com/AveMariaJamestown
