Good Shepherd Foundation Inc 100 South Second Avenue

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

MANY GRACIOUS DONATIONS TO OUR GREATEST NEEDS FUND LENT SUPPORT IN THE ABILITY OF OUR FOUNDATION TO SUPPORT CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS, INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMING, AND ENHANCED SERVICES TO MEET STAFF AND RESIDENT NEEDS. THIS INCLUDED, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO MEMORY COTTAGES GAZEBO UPDATES, SMILE COOKIES FOR RESIDENTS, MOTHER'S DAY CARNATIONS, GRILL & PRE-LIT CHRISTMAS TREES, MARKETING VIDEO EQUIPMENT, COURT TV & SOUNDBAR AND CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION EVENT. IN ADDITION, FOUNDATION PROVIDED FUNDS TOWARDS A ONE-TIME STAFF RETENTION BONUS IN THE AMOUNT OF $150,000 AND GRANTS TO EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE LOAN/GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT EMPLOYEES IN NEED.FOUNDATION UTILIZED SHEPHERD OF GRACE RESTRICTED FUNDS AND CONTRIBUTION INCOME TO PROVIDE A NEW TV AND SOUNDBAR, KEYBOARD AND MEMORY COTTAGE FURNISHINGS IN EFFORT TO ENHANCE RESIDENT RECREATION AND COMMON AREAS FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF ALL.FOUNDATION SUPPORTS SPIRITUAL CARE AND FELLOWSHIP, THIS YEAR EXTERIOR CHAPEL IMPROVEMENTS TO REPLACE THE FASCIA WERE COMPLETED. IN ADDITION, AS PART OF FOUNDATION'S EFFORTS TO CONNECT WITH DONORS, AFFILIATED CHURCHES, VOLUNTEERS, STAFF, EMPLOYEES, AND GREATER COMMUNITY A FOCUS GROUP MEETING WAS HELD TO DISCUSS THE BEST APPROACH TO BRING OUR PLANNED GIVING EDUCATIONAL WEBINAR SERIES TO EACH GROUP. IN THE UPCOMING YEAR IT IS THE HOPE THAT WE WILL BE INVITED TO SHARE ABOUT GENEROSITY VEHICLES TO STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS WITH AREA CONGREGATIONS.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 WERE PLACED AND OUTDOOR BENCHES ALONG WITH TREES PLANTED AND GARDEN BOXES IMPROVED. WHILE OTHER MEMORIALS TOOK ON A STAFF APPRECIATION FOCUS TO SHARE MEALS WITH THEIR LOVED ONE'S CAREGIVER TEAMS.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, FOOD FOR JULY 4TH RESIDENT FAIR, WALKER BAGS, PLANTINGS IN OUR RAISED GARDEN AREAS, STAINED GLASS WINDOW CATCHERS TO BRIGHTEN RESIDENT ROOMS AND DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON LARGE PRINT COLORING/CROSSWORD BOOKS, GRIP STOCKINGS AND RAZONS WERE GIFTED TO SUPPORT AGING GRACEFULLY AT OUR CAMPUS. FOUNDATION ALSO SUPPORTED MEDICAL TRANSPORTATION MEETING AN URGENT RESIDENT NEED.TO CONTINUE AND CONNECT RESIDENTS AND FAMILIES DURING COVID RESTRICTIONS, FOUNDATION RECEIVED GRANT SUPPORT FROM MDH AND CMP FUNDS WERE UTILIZED TO SUPPORT THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT TO AID IN THE SAFETY OF IN-PERSON VISITATIONS.RESIDENT ACTIVITIES AND RECREATION SUPPORT THROUGH OUR CAMPUSWIDE RECREATION FUND IS EXTENDED THROUGHOUT BOTH SAUK RAPIDS AND SHEPHERD OF GRACE IN BECKER CAMPUSES. DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS REMAINING IN PLACE, ONE EVENT WAS HELD THIS YEAR, ELVIS PERFORMED FOR MULTIPLE AREAS. AS WE LEARN TO BEST LIVE SAFELY WITH COVID AND RESTRICTIONS RELAX, RESEARCH TO IMPLEMENT NEW PROGRAMMING IN THE EVENT CENTER WILL BE A FOCUS ALONG WITH OTHER CAMPUSWIDE EVENTS THAT ARE ON THE FOREFRONT.RESIDENT AND TENANT WELLNESS UNITED WAY BLESSED FOUNDATION WITH COMPANION ROBOTIC PETS FOR 3 TENANTS THIS YEAR. ALL EXPERIENCED A POSITIVE INCREASE IN MOBILITY. ALSO, AN ELEVATED EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, SPIRITUAL, AND INTELLECTUAL RESPONSE WAS OBSERVED.FOUNDATION BELIEVES IN GIVING OUR GOOD SHEPHERD TEAM PRAISE AND APPRECIATION THROUGH AN ANNUAL EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION PROGRAM, MILLER MISSION AWARD. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS 6 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 BEVERAGE BAR TO PROMOTE PROGRAMS AND ENCOURAGE NOMINATIONS.YET AGAIN THIS YEAR, THE PANDEMIC CONTINUED TO BRING MANY CHALLENGES INCLUDING STAFFING SHORTAGES AND RETENTION. REGARDLESS OUR STAFF SOLDIERED ON TO EXTEND COMFORT AND CARE TO SENIORS ENTRUSTED TO GOOD SHEPHERD COMMUNITY. THE FOUNDATION UTILIZED COVID RELIEF FUNDS TO SUPPORT RESIDENT NEEDS AND STAFF APPRECIATION EVENTS SUCH AS PROTEIN SNACKS, BEVERAGE TRUCK, CINCO DE MAYO EVENT WITH MOMENTS HOSPICE. THIS FUND ALONG WITH HEALING TOUCH AND CARE PROVIDER FUNDS SUPPORTED A WORKPLACE WELLNESS EVENT FOR STAFF THAT INCLUDED HEALING TOUCH, CHAIR MASSAGES, MINDFUL MEDITATION AND CARE PROVIDER HAND BLESSING.LEADINGAGE WORKFORCE RECRUITMENT POWER-UP GRANT HELPED FOUNDATION SUPPORT OUR NEED TO EXPEDITE THE ONBOARDING PROCESS WHICH DEMANDS EFFICIENCY TO QUICKLY RECRUIT, ONBOARD, EDUCATE, AND RETAIN NEW HIRES. THE GRANT ALLOWED FOR THE PURCHASE OF FINGERPRINT EQUIPMENT TO KEEP THE PROCESS IN-HOUSE WHILE MEETING THE REQUIREMENT OF DHS. CURRENTLY AN IN-HOUSE METHOD TO STREAMLINE THE PROCESS IS UNDERWAY TO RESULT IN FASTER TURN-AROUND TIMES AND ELIMINATE SCHEDULING DELAYS PLUS EXTRA TRANSPORTATION ISSUES. A SEAMLESS ONBOARDING PROCESS IS KEY IN THE WORLD OF HAVING LESS APPLICANTS AND OUR CULTURE OF APPRECIATION FOR HEALTH CARE HEROES FROM THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT. AFTER ALL, WITHOUT EMPLOYEES WE ARE NOT ABLE TO FULFIL OUR MISSION TO SERVE AND ENRICH THE LIVES OF HUNDREDS OF RESIDENTS ENTRUSTED TO OUR CARE.