the catholic community of st. francis of assisi
Alzheimer’s Awareness and Caregiver Support
At St. Francis, as part of the Pastoral Care Ministries, Kathleen Boaté coordinates the Alzheimer’s / Dementia Caregiver Support Group. Kathleen believes it is essential to highlight this group for Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, “It is so important we reach as many people as possible because if people don’t need us today, someday they might or know of someone who could benefit from our group.” “The Alzheimer’s/Dementia caregiver support group is a passion of mine,” she says. “I am a retired Executive Director of Assisted Living and Memory Care Communities and a Dementia Specialist from the Alzheimer’s Foundation.” The challenge of being a caregiver has been personal for Kathleen as well, “I have experienced being a family caregiver as my mother had dementia.”
She is a certified support group facilitator under the Alzheimer’s Association and the Dementia Alliance of North Carolina, and the assistant facilitator, Marla Edelberg, was originally a member of this group. After Marla’s husband passed away, Kathleen asked if she wanted to continue with the group. Kathleen adds, “She is a retired social worker and has much to offer the group, especially her sense of humor, which we always need.” Marla is also experienced as a certified group facilitator.
Volunteer Spotlight: Pam James
Pam James can weave, and not just a great story! Pam has been in Weaver’s Guilds, each with over 200 members, in three different states, Colorado, Texas, and North Carolina, and has been an avid weaver and mixed media artist for a long time. Every two years, there is a convention where she says, “Every well-known weaver attends and is probably teaching a class.” This past year, the convention was in Wichita, Kansas, where she entered a piece in the Mixed Media category and won 3rd Place!
How does this correlate to her work at St. Francis? She weaves her love of art with her leadership of the ‘Care for Creation’ ministry at St. Francis. “I’ve always been a bit of an ‘eco-freak,’” says Pam,” I grew up with the idea that you mustn’t waste. My sister-in-law is kind enough to call me resourceful, but I’m just cheap! I’ve always asked myself, ‘Why would I throw that away? I can use that.’” She exclusively uses ‘recycled yarn’ in weaving, embracing the ‘reuse’ principle of Care for Creation.
Ministry Spotlight: Oak City Cares
The Oak City Cares ministry at St. Francis couldn’t assist in a more aptly named cause. Oak City Cares is a community organization named after the City of Raleigh’s nickname, and what it does is care for those in need. As St. Francis of Assisi Oak City Cares ministry volunteer Ann Lassiter said, “It is a hub for those experiencing homelessness. They provide breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the weekend, and different community organizations serve them.” Our ministry at the parish specifically provides breakfast 18 times a year. Parishioners donate and prepare food, including eggs, water, fruit, and granola bars, and the parish provides biscuits. Ministry volunteers make and serve it to the patrons at Oak City to take away or sit and eat there.
