On April 15 and 16, residents, family members, and associates at The Birches Assisted Living in Clarendon Hills joined together to make Easter baskets for children at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. The “Bunnies and Baskets” project is part of the Birches Gives Back Program, a new initiative dedicated to making a difference in the community through acts of service.
Birches Gives Back was founded by Birches’ Director of Encore and Memory Services, Jackie Raschke, who started the program because of the positive impact community service has on both Birches residents and the community. “Doing good for others and knowing we are putting a smile on people’s faces is very rewarding. It’s a win-win,” said Raschke.
Participants in the project made “boo-boo bunnies” for the children, which are bunnies made out of wash rags that can be used as ice packs for “boo-boos.” The “boo-boo bunnies” were included along with a variety of other Easter treats in decorated Easter baskets delivered to the hospital. “The children will be happy and doing good things for others is beneficial for our residents. This is all part of the Masterpiece Living movement,” said Raschke.
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The Birches embraces the Masterpiece Living philosophy which encourages older adults to live life to the fullest each and every day. The Masterpiece Living philosophy is based on a decade-long MacArthur Foundation study which demonstrated that lifestyle plays a crucial role in how we age. According to the results of the study, those who stay active physically, mentally, and socially (through programs like Birches Gives Back) maintain their health and well-being much longer than their less active and engaged counterparts.
In addition to the “Bunnies and Baskets” project, the Birches Gives Back program will undertake several other service projects throughout the year. In February of this year, Birches Gives Back carried out a highly successful project called “Hearts and Heroes” which provided Valentine’s Day care packages to U.S. soldiers. Other activities Raschke is hoping to include in the Birches Gives Back program this year are an Alzheimer’s Walk and a donation of plant arrangements to the Hinsdale cancer support center Wellness House.
