Tabitha

Each one of Tabitha Health Care Services’ more than 1,200 Elders received a gift this Christmas, thanks in large part to the generous contribution of Tabitha employees. Employee gift donations made up more than 50 percent of those distributed, and a six-person volunteer crew spent more than five hours sorting, arranging and organizing gifts for distribution.

With gift and monetary donations from community sponsors including New Covenant Church, Walgreens Option Care and Thrivent Financial, Tabitha was able to personally deliver Christmas cheer to all its Elders throughout the Tabitha Continuum of Elder Care.

“It was incredibly rewarding to see our employees’ selfless concern for the welfare of others,” said Sue Hill, Director of Education. “I am amazed and overwhelmed by the response, just as so many of our Elders were amazed and overwhelmed to receive an unexpected gift and to know someone was thinking of them this Christmas.”

Building on past years’ holiday giving efforts that traditionally reached Elders on Tabitha’s main campus in Lincoln—including Tabitha Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Tabitha’s Green House® homes—in 2011 the organization went further to present a gift to every Elder receiving any Tabitha service in its 28-county service area, including GracePointe Assisted Living & Memory Care Suites; Journey House Skilled Nursing Facility for Hospice and Palliative Care; Tabitha’s two living communities in Crete, Garden Square Assisted Living and Tabitha Nursing Center at Crete; and all clients living independently who receive Tabitha home health and hospice services.

“Giving reminds us that we are part of something larger than ourselves,” Hill said. “When we come together as One Tabitha and as a community, truly anything is possible.”

A Devotional from Pastor David Sites, Director of Pastoral Care

The Christmas season invites the practice of gift giving.  You probably both gave and received gifts from family friends and took effort to get the right gift for the right person. Some of the gifts given are being enjoyed and some will probably be laid aside.

God is the greatest gift giver.  We read in I Peter 4:10: “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” The gifts we are given may be described as talents or abilities. They aren’t wrapped in colored paper with a bow. They aren’t purchased at the mall. They are graciously given to us to be used as a blessing to those around us. You might say they go a long way to describe who you are. Some examples of these gifts are listening, encouraging, counseling, communication, building a sense of community, creating harmony, etc. They are God given to be used for the good of others. Everyone has been gifted! You are gifted!

Questions to consider:
1. What do you think your gift(s) is/are?
2. How do you see yourself sharing your gift(s) in your work here at Tabitha?
3. Do you help other team members recognize their gifts? Do you give compliments when they use them?
4. How have residents been blessed when staff and volunteers have shared their gifts? Can you name some examples?

Prayer: 
Loving Father, you have gifted us to be blessing to the lives of those around us and as a result we are blessed. Enable us to recognize how we are gifted and then encourage us to use our gifts.  Help us to assist others at Tabitha in acknowledging and sharing their gifts.  Amen.

This devotional is offered by the Pastoral Care Dept, for personal and/or team use. Please know we are available to respond to you or your team’s personal needs as they arise.

Pastor Dave Sites (486-8558)
Pastor Renae Johnson (486-8569)
 

Join Us for a Christmas Eve Service

Tabitha will be hosting a Christmas Eve service, Saturday, December 24, 3 p.m., at the Lincoln campus chapel (4720 Randolph Street). Pastor Clinton McDonald will be officiating. The public is welcome to come celebrate the reason for the season with our residents and families!

Tabitha Elder Care Services is pleased to welcome Aimee Middleton as Director of Client Development. In her position, Middleton is responsible for the growth and relationship management of Tabitha’s referral sources, and will develop and execute a related marketing plan aligning Tabitha’s mission and business strategy.

“I am honored to join a team that is inspired and passionate about providing exceptional levels of care across the organization,” Middleton said. “I look forward to educating our current and future clients on Tabitha’s continuum of services that promote the dignity, independence and overall well-being of our Elders.”

Middleton holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration and has extensive experience in management, sales and external relations. She is pursuing licensure and recently completed a professional internship in nursing home administration.

Middleton serves as board chairman of Legacy Veterans Garden, a memorial garden project to benefit the Eastern Nebraska Veterans’ Home in Bellevue. She also is an active member of the Nebraska Health Care Association, Nebraska Assisted Living Association, and the state and national chapters of the National Association of Healthcare Recruiters.

Tabitha Meals on Wheels and its many generous benefactors took top billing at Wednesday’s inaugural Rockstar Celebration at Embassy Suites in Lincoln. Recognized at the benefit were five corporate and individual award winners with outstanding contributions to Tabitha Meals on Wheels.

Gateway Sertoma was presented the Civic Organization Rockstar Award for its generous, ongoing support of Meals on Wheels through its annual golf tournament proceeds since 2004, most recently the $30,000 raised in its 2011 tournament. Wes and Winnie Furrer together took home the Individual and Volunteer Rockstar award for their volunteerism through Meals on Wheels that spans more than two decades and 5,000-plus hours delivering meals. The Congregational Rockstar Award went to First Lutheran Church, whose rich history with Tabitha Meals on Wheels includes extensive volunteer and financial support from hundreds of its members. Shirley Smith, Tabitha’s director of food services was awarded the Tabitha Employee Rockstar Award for her service since 1998 to Tabitha and Meals on Wheels, where today she oversees the daily food preparation and nutritional needs of more than 650 Elders. Finally, Union Bank was recognized with the Corporate Rockstar Award for its longtime relationship with Tabitha through generous financial support, particularly its matching gift pledge during the 2006 Meals on Wheels endowment campaign.

Tabitha Meals on Wheels was the first and is the only Meals on Wheels program in the Lincoln area. It serves more than 400 Elders each day by delivering hearty, hot meals to recipients who are otherwise unable to access proper nutrition. In operation for more than 40 years, Tabitha Meals on Wheels relies heavily on volunteer and financial support from the community, as more than 70 percent of its recipients cannot afford the $5.50 per meal required to maintain the program’s costs.

Below: Christie Hinrichs, President & CEO and Mark Hansen, Chair Tabitha, Inc. Board of Directors, present each ROCKSTAR recipient with their award. From left to right, Gateway Sertoma Group, First Lutheran Church, Wes and Winnie Furrer, Shirley Smith and Union Bank & Trust.

The Nebraska Health Care Association/Nebraska Assisted Living Association honored Lana Allen and Karen Siebe of Tabitha Health Care Services at their annual awards luncheon on September 12. The award luncheon recognizes individuals for outstanding service and dedication to a Nebraska nursing home or assisted living facility.

Lana Allen, Food and Nutrition Supervisor, was awarded the $500 Sysco Scholarship. Allen is pursuing a degree in culinary and food service management from Southeast Community College. 

Karen Siebe, Registered Dietitian, was awarded Outstanding Service in Dietetics – Registered Dietitian in Long Term Care. Siebe has been in the Tabitha family for six years.

As a nonprofit organization serving 28 counties, Tabitha’s love embraces a society where everyone is valued and empowered to live life to the fullest with compassionate at-home support, innovative living communities, exceptional rehabilitation, health care and hospice services.

Tabitha Meals on Wheels was the recent recipient of a generous donation from the estate of Theresa Farnsworth Wittmann. Wittmann’s attorney, Ed Perry, and nephew-in-law, Bob Muller, presented a check for $51,137 to Heath Stukenholtz and Chandler Tyrrell of the Tabitha Foundation.

Tabitha started Meals on Wheels in Nebraska and has been in operation since 1967. Today Tabitha delivers hot, nutritious meals to more than 400 Elders, 365 days a year. Tabitha Meals on Wheels relies heavily on its donors, as nearly 70 percent of meal recipients are unable to pay the $5.50 per meal cost. Tabitha does not turn away Elders with an inability to pay. In addition to daily nutrition, Tabitha Meals on Wheels also provides a daily safety check for Elders who live alone in their homes.

Mrs. Wittmann, who passed away in 1997, made contributions to 11 charities from her estate, aspiring to impact the continued prosperity and well-being of her hometown of Lincoln. She married Herbert Wittmann in 1943 and the couple lived in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, until 1947. Wittmann worked as an interior designer and draftsperson for Peterson Construction Co. alongside her husband, who was the company’s architect. She enjoyed gardening, singing and traveling, and she was known by the nickname “Rusty” for her striking auburn hair.

“This gift is a testament to Mrs. Wittmann’s lifelong commitment to helping both those in need and the Lincoln community,” said Stukenholtz, Vice President of the Tabitha Foundation. “We are grateful for her generosity and appreciate her example of how including Tabitha in estate planning can benefit a program like Meals on Wheels for years to come.”

As a nonprofit organization serving 28 counties, Tabitha’s love embraces a society where everyone is valued and empowered to live life to the fullest, with compassionate at-home support, innovative living communities, exceptional rehabilitation, health care and hospice services.

Tabitha Health Care Services is pleased to announce the addition of Pastor David Sites as Director of Pastoral Care. In his role, Sites oversees the pastoral care program to meet the spiritual needs of the Tabitha communities.

An installation service for Sites was held at Tabitha’s chapel at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27. Rev. David deFreese, Bishop of the Nebraska Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), will conduct the installation.

“I have been very impressed with the warm, caring spirit that is evident in those serving at all levels at Tabitha,” Sites said. “Everyone seems focused on those they serve and how they can be supportive of one another in their service. It is a very loving environment in which to work.”

Sites has led ministries throughout Nebraska and Kansas for more than 37 years. Throughout that time, he has been a committed member of the synod, serving eight years as a secretary for the Nebraska Synod, and holding posts on the candidacy board and several planning teams. Sites also has played an active role in his community as a member of the Rotary and Lions Clubs.

Tabitha Health Care Services—celebrating 125 years—is pleased to announce Pastor David Sites as Tabitha’s Director of Pastoral Care. Pastor Sites will oversee Tabitha Pastoral Care to meet the spiritual needs of Tabitha services and living communities.

“I have been very impressed with the warm, caring spirit that is evident in those serving at all levels in Tabitha’s Elder Care,” said Pastor Sites. “Everyone seems focused on those they serve and how they can be supportive of one another in their service. It is a very loving environment in which to work.”

Pastor Sites has led ministries throughout Nebraska and Kansas for over 37 years. He has been a committed member of the Nebraska Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, serving eight years as a secretary and in roles on the candidacy committee and planning teams. Pastor Sites also has played an active role in his community as a member of the Rotary and Lions Clubs.

Away from his ministries, Pastor Sites enjoys working outdoors, reading and collecting farm toys.

As a nonprofit organization serving 28 counties, Tabitha’s love embraces a society where everyone is valued and empowered to live life to the fullest with compassionate at-home support, innovative living communities, exceptional rehabilitation, health care and hospice services. For more information about Tabitha services or living communities, please call (402) 486-8520.