These pet-friendly screen doors are perfect for maximizing fresh air flow while keeping bugs out, making them an ideal addition to your home. “A seemingly small gesture has turned into a big positive experience, ” Tovar said.Give your pet the freedom to come and go with our versatile and functional screen doors with pet doors. The group is hoping the idea will catch on. What started as a visit to a few people’s homes has grown into an effort to bring some cheer to as many folks as they can. “They spend so much time helping others, they never expect to be on the receiving end,” Tovar said. Many of the folks the group visits spend a lot of time volunteering in the community with the Assistance League, so the attention they get is a bit out of the norm. “One of my favorite things about doing this is to see the joy in their faces,” Tovar said. “I try to select a heart-shaped rock, then I paint a smiling masked sun, since we always sing, ‘You Are My Sunshine.’” The mask goes back to the days of the pandemic. The rocks are hand-painted in bright colors by Tovar. Usually it brings a big, surprised smile, and that brightens my day,” Manwaring said.Įveryone the group visits get a heart-shaped rock to remember the day along with maybe some goodies like chocolate and strawberries or flowers from their gardens. “Now I find myself trying to uplift people, even strangers. “I remember when tears rolled down the cheeks of a lady who was hard as nails, but had a heart of gold.” “I saw that no matter one’s circumstances, everyone likes to feel wanted and appreciated,” Manwaring said. “This group has become like a family,” said brigade member Fran Tovar.ĭuring COVID, Anna Manwaring joined the group because she felt for people who were alone. “It was the middle of the pandemic when we started and we needed some cheering up for Marty and for ourselves,” Carter said.īrigade members say its hard to determine who is getting more out of the visits - the singers or those they visit. “There is so much negativity and bad news all over the world and these visits give us a chance to recharge and focus on the good things in life,” said Babs Carter shortly after she joined the group. Jim McGlocklin, an Oceanside resident recovering from an operation, wrote, “I am thanking you for the love you showed me today by stopping by making sure I was healing.” A living Get Well Card with gifts and good wishes. The singing brigade has a large collection of thank you notes from folks they’ve visited.ĭenise Ford, a Carlsbad woman who got a visit while recovering from surgery, wrote, “What a joyous surprise to see the group as I opened the front door. “The group is really about friendship and kindness,” Ummel said. They have gone to see friends who have lost a spouse, child or grandchild. The group has visited people after an illness or before surgery. “It takes so little kindness to make a big difference,” Ummel said. The singing seniors only stay about 10 minutes at each visit, but it does a lot to cheer folks up. Most folks they visit are volunteers with the Assistance League or their friends and neighbors. Since then, the singing group has visited 110 seniors, all around Oceanside, Vista and Carlsbad. However, even as the impact of COVID waned, we realized that a bit of kindness shared with others is a welcome gift at any time,” said Ummel, who spearheaded the effort in May 2020. “During the first year, we were visiting a lot of people who were isolated because of the pandemic. Ummel figured if it meant that much to her, how about doing it for others? The group visited League member Marty Ummel and sang for her birthday. But she was not hurt and a volunteer from the league fixed her broken screen. She was so excited, she fell through the screen door. One of the first house calls was to a woman who lived alone in a mobile home park and just had an operation.
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