Volunteers From Home Depot Share Holiday Magic with St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care Patients
By Space Coast Daily // January 9, 2022
PHILANTHROPY SPOTLIGHT
BREVARD COUNTY • TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA – Volunteers from The Home Depot stores in Brevard and Indian River counties shared some holiday magic this season with St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care patients.
The teams jumped into action to spruce up two of St. Francis’ centers – the Edward M. Poe Care Center in Titusville, and the nonprofit’s newest in-patient unit, Courtenay Springs Care Center, in Merritt Island.
“The Home Depot has created a space for our patients and their families to step outside and take a break, feeling the breeze on their face or seeing the sun as it sets,” said Joe Killian, President, and CEO of St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care.
“We are so grateful to The Home Depot’s local leadership, including Frank Branson, Michael Placyk, and Randy Ford. Our mission is to uplift lives every day, and we are humbled when our community partners gift themselves to that purpose.”
The volunteers spruced up the exterior spaces of both locations, including planting beautiful plants, installing custom-made benches and a picnic table.
Additionally, the Edward M. Poe Care Center was treated to a new heater for the patio that expands the daily use for patients and their families. The front of the building received new pavers and a custom container box to display memorial rocks, including from the Reflections of Love events.
The rocks from the 2021 locations will be collected and added to the boxes when the tree lights go out in February. Additionally, the NorthStar room in the adjacent Titusville building received a needed gift of a new refrigerator.
In addition to the above-mentioned improvements, the Courtenay Springs location received a flagpole, complete with a special ceremony for the first flag to fly.
“A flagpole installation was such a meaningful touch to our Courtenay Springs location,” said Christine Tate, Community Engagement Coordinator for Veteran Service.
“Many of the volunteers were veterans themselves, so they understood the importance. In honor of the installation, we pinned three of The Home Depot associates, and then arranged for a 94-year-old Veteran, who is a resident, to raise the flag for the first time.”
“The Home Depot’s commitment to our NorthStar Child Grief and the 160 kids we are caring for is overwhelming,” said Lynn Kiefer, Child Grief Program Coordinator at St. Francis Reflections.
“Whether it is art supplies, pots and plants, or a new refrigerator, these gifts touch the lives of children across our county. Thank you does not seem adequate, but it is absolutely heartfelt.”
Volunteers came from The Home Depot locations as far away as Fort Pierce to help with the special projects. Once the other plantings were completed, a signature orange tree was planted at both sites as a reminder of the generosity of the Santas in orange.
St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care was founded in 1977 and licensed in 1990.
St. Francis is Brevard’s longest-serving, not-for-profit, independent, interfaith provider of hospice, palliative care, pediatric palliative care and grief support services.
For more information about St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care, please visit ReflectionsLSC.org or follow us on Facebook @StFrancisReflections.
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