A tree-dition lives on
Story & photos by Gretchen Ammerman
Oregon Coast TODAY
Nine months into the challenges created by COVID-19, Lakeview Senior Living in Lincoln City has been sharpening its adaptive edge with creative ways to reach out to the community. With one of the most festive holidays of the year on the horizon, staff are preparing to reach out again with three fun opportunities for people to get into the spirit.
“We had a socially distant Halloween and trick or treat event here and it was a lot of fun,” said Executive Director Jennifer Whitmyer. “Now we’re getting in the Christmas spirit and want to help others.”
One of Lakeview’s first forays into giving is stepping up to provide a version of the long-running Angels Anonymous Fantasy of Trees auction and gala.
“We’re going to help Angels Anonymous raise money for their work with the victims of the Echo Mountain Fire,” Whitmyer said. “Twelve businesses and groups will be decorating trees in our dining room, then we’ll be hosting a virtual auction, with 100 percent of the money raised going to Angels Anonymous, who were unable to hold the event this year due to their intense efforts to help those who were burned out of their homes. We know that our tree auction won’t replace their efforts but it will still help our neighbors.”
Beverly Cohen is a member of the Angels Anonymous board of directors and will be decorating one of the trees with other board members.
“Lakeview has filled a void and we’re extremely grateful to them for it,” she said, “We’re all missing having the ball this year but this is definitely helping.”
When Cohen heard that an organization was stepping up to carry on the tree-dition, she was pleased, and even more so when she heard who it was.
“I have an affinity for Lakeview,” she said. “I had a dear friend that was living there that passed away this year, and they were absolutely wonderful to her.”
Due to space issues and the fact that only a few people can enter the facility at any one time, the trees won’t be quite as lavish as some of the trees have been in past years, and many will be decorated with gift cards. Cohen said that the tree she is decorating has two themes: angels, and providing the kind of thing that fire victims might need.
“Because they aren’t as lavish, these trees won’t be as expensive,” she said. “So, if people want to buy a tree for a fire victim, that would be great. The angels fund has been stretched thin because of the fire. Whether the event raises five hundred or five hundred thousand dollars, anything helps.”
Visit the Lakeview Senior Living Community Facebook page to view the trees. An online watch party will begin at 5 pm on Monday, Dec. 14, with bidding starting at 6 pm.
Next, Lakeview is throwing a viewing party, and everyone’s invited. The campus is one of the stops on the official lights display map in this week’s center spread.
“We’re covering our campus with lights this year,” Whitmyer said. “We saw the call to action on the Lincoln City Community Days Facebook page and we’re all in. We can’t wait for the community to come and enjoy our lights!”
Lakeview’s Winter Wonderland Holiday Lights will officially open on Saturday, Dec. 12, and will last through January. The public is invited to drive or walk through the campus and enjoy the lights and sights, plus take a family photo at the Gingerbread House. Please bring non-perishable food items for the Lincoln City Food Pantry when coming to enjoy the light display.
Finally, the campus is hosting an amended version of its Presents for the Residents program.
“We have regular Zoom meetings with our resident families and they want us to continue some of the holiday traditions that are super special to us here at Lakeview,” Whitmyer said. “They specifically asked about the giving tree for our residents.”
Traditionally, Lakeview Senior Living sets up a Christmas tree in the lobby featuring paper ornaments with three wishes on them; special requests from each resident who lives at Lakeview. Family members, Lakeview vendors, staff members and others would pick an ornament from the tree, shop for and wrap the presents and bring them back so each resident had presents to open on Christmas morning. Visitors currently cannot enter Lakeview, so the traditional tree can’t be displayed and people can’t drop off presents in person.
“This is such a special tradition for our residents,” Whitmyer said. “Most of our residents have family and friends, but a few don’t and so it’s very important that Santa visit them with gifts.”
Lakeview is reaching out to the larger Lincoln County community to help ensure its residents have a visit from Santa. Go to Lakeview’s Facebook page for information on how to make the holidays special for seniors.
“This has been a very hard year,” Whitmyer said. “We all live here, we all care here, and we can make a difference if we do it together.”
Lakeview Senior Living is located at 2690 NE Yacht Avenue. For more information, call 541-994-7400 or go to www.facebook.com/lakeviewseniorlivingcommunity.