Good Shepherd Foundation Inc 100 South Second Avenue

TO SUPPORT GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN HOME OF SAUK RAPIDS, MINNESOTA AND ITS AFFILIATES.

FOUNDATION SUPPORTS SPIRITUAL CARE AND FELLOWSHIP THROUGH GRACIOUS DONATIONS THAT HELPED REV. KEITH WEISE, OUR PASTOR AND CHAPLAIN, PROVIDE SERVICE, INCLUDING VIRTUAL, TO EVERYONE WHO LIVES AND WORKS ON OUR CAMPUS. HE IS THE PASTOR OF OUR CHURCH CONGREGATION, THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD. FOUNDATION PROVIDED SUPPORT FOR A PORTABLE ALTER TO ALLOW PASTOR TO PROVIDE THE SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR. THIS EXTENDED IN PERSON SERVICES IN ALL AREAS OF OUR 30-ACRE CAMPUS DURING A CONTINUED TIME OF CAUTION DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS. IN ADDITION, A PIANO DOLLY WAS ADDED TO THE CHAPEL FOR EASE OF MOVING HE PIANO FOR VIRTUAL RECORDING OF SERVICES THAT LINKED OUR CAMPUS TOGETHER SPIRITUALLY THIS PAST YEAR. ALSO, IN EFFORT TO NETWORK WITH AREA MINISTRY AND GREATER COMMUNITY PRAYER BOOKS WERE PROVIDED TO A LOCAL AFFILIATED CHURCH CONGREGATION. RESIDENT NEEDS WERE MET BY THE FOUNDATION'S WORK TO PARTNER WITH MANY AREA COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND BUSINESSES. FOR EXAMPLE, PUMPKIN DONATION FOR DECORATING CONTEST, PLANTINGS IN OUR RAISED GARDEN AREAS AND DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON EACH RESIDENT RECEIVED GIFTS TO SUPPORT LIFESTYLE AND AGING GRACEFULLY AT OUR CAMPUS WHICH INCLUDED RAZORS, THERAPY ANIMALS AND BABY DOLLS AND GRIP SOCKS. FOUNDATION BELIEVES IN GIVING OUR GOOD SHEPHERD TEAM PRAISE AND APPRECIATION THROUGH AN ANNUAL EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION PROGRAM, MILLER MISSION AWARD. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS 5 NOMINATED AND CHOSEN STAFF MEMBERS WHO DEMONSTRATE TO EXCEED OUTSTANDING SERVICE, RESPECT TO ALL, ARE A ROLE MODEL TO OTHERS, PRESENT A POSITIVE ATTITUDE IN ALL INTERACTIONS, ARE TRUSTWORTHY AND A CREATIVE LEADER BRINGING CRITICAL THINKING AN OPPORTUNITY TO EACH RECEIVE AN AWARD OF $1,000. IN ADDITION, THIS PROGRAM RECOGNIZED ALL WHO WERE NOMINATED, NOMINATORS AND SUPERVISORS WITH A LUNCHEON. ALSO OFFERED WAS A STAFF APPRECIATION SNACK TO PROMOTE PROGRAM AND ENCOURAGE NOMINATIONS. FOUNDATION UTILIZED SHEPHERD OF GRACE RESTRICTED FUNDS AND CONTRIBUTION INCOME TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO SIDEWALK AND LANDSCAPE AREAS AT OUR SISTER CAMPUS IN BECKER. THIS WAS IN EFFORT TO ENHANCE CURB APPEAL, IMPROVE GROUNDS AND RESIDENT AREAS FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF ALL. RESIDENT ACTIVITIES AND RECREATION ON OUR CAMPUS RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM FOUNDATION WITH THE RECEIPT OF MEAT DONATIONS FOR A FLAG DEDICATION EVENT, COORDINATION OF AN IN-KIND DONATION TO BRING AN OLD TIME CAR PARADE, AND REVIEW TOWARDS USE OF FUNDS FOR THE PARAMOUNT ARTS GRANT TO BRING MINDFUL RECREATIONAL VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR OUTREACH AREAS AND NURSING HOME VIA INTERNAL CHANNELS. MEMORIALS ALLOWED THE FOUNDATION TO WORK SIDE BY SIDE WITH LOVED ONES IN REMEMBRANCE AND HONOR OF THOSE DEPARTED. MEMORIAL STONES IN THE SERENITY GARDEN WHERE PLACED AND OUTDOOR BENCHES ALONG WITH TREES PLANTED AND GARDEN BOXES IMPROVED. WHILE OTHER MEMORIALS TOOK ON A LARGER SCALE THAT INCLUDED WEATHER RESISTANT PATIO FURNITURE FOR THE ENTIRE SISTER CAMPUS, SHEPHERD OF GRACE.MANY GRACIOUS DONATIONS TO OUR GREATEST NEEDS FUND HAVE LENT SUPPORT IN THE ABILITY OF OUR FOUNDATION TO EXPAND OUR OUTREACH EFFORTS TO EDUCATION OUR CURRENT DONORS, AFFILIATED CHURCHES, VOLUNTEERS, STAFF, EMPLOYEES, AND GREATER COMMUNITY REGARDING PLANNED GIVING OPPORTUNITIES. A 2-PART SERIES WEBINAR THAT INCLUDED THE FIRST SEGMENT IN NOVEMBER 2021 KICKED OFF OUR HARVESTING GOOD CAMPAIGN, YEAR END AND YOU! WITH THAT CAME WEBSITE IMPROVEMENTS, ENHANCED MARKETING EFFORTS INCLUDING POSTCARD MAILINGS, UPDATED BROCHURES AND YEAR END CAMPAIGN MATERIALS. COMMUNITY EFFORTS ABOUT GOOD SHEPHERD'S MISSION AND GENEROSITY ALSO WERE SHARED ON LOCAL RADIO STATIONS. RESIDENT AND TENANT WELLNESS PROGRAMMING CONTINUED TO BE MADE POSSIBLE TO SUPPORT THE 5 AREAS OF WELLNESS INCLUDING PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, SPIRITUAL, AND INTELLECTUAL. THE PANDEMIC CONTINUED TO BRING MANY CHALLENGES INCLUDING STAFFING TO SUPPORT MULTIPLE WEEK TESTING TIMES AND STAFFING SHORTAGES. REGARDLESS OUR STAFF SOLDIERED ON TO EXTEND COMFORT AND CARE TO SENIORS ENTRUSTED TO GOOD SHEPHERD COMMUNITY. AS A RESULT, THE FOUNDATION UTILIZED COVID RELIEF FUNDS TO SUPPORT RESIDENT NEEDS AND STAFF APPRECIATION. THIS FUND EXTENDED SUPPORT TOWARDS A SCRUBS MATCH PROGRAM TO SHOW OUR APPRECIATION. IN ADDITION, EFFORTS CONTINUED THIS YEAR TO FINALIZE THE USE OF A GRANT THAT ALLOWED THE START OF THE COURAGE GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT OUR STAFF. THIS PROGRAM OFFERED, A COVID19 EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM ALLOWING GOOD SHEPHERD TO EXTEND REAL TIME RESPONSE ASSISTANCE FOR QUALIFYING EMPLOYEES WHO FACED SHORT-TERM COVID19 RELATED EMERGENCIES INCLUDING BASIC HUMAN NEEDS, FINANCIAL CRISIS AND TEMPORARY LODGING NEEDS. LEADING AGE RETENTION GRANT FUNDS ALSO ALLOWED OUR RETENTION COMMITTEE TO SUPPORT OUR EMPLOYEES WITH EVENTS SUCH AS OUTDOOR FOOD VENUES, CHRISTMAS GS APPAREL AND OVERALL STAFF APPRECIATION INCLUDING TREATS ON OCCASION.