The kitchen at Bridgewood Gardens in Albertville stayed busy during the holiday season as a number of residents committed themselves to multiple charitable efforts. Their projects began with baking several hundred cookies for the Kairos Cookie Ministry. What began as a baking project quickly turned into a coordinated operation. Residents created ingredient lists, put together baking schedules, and spent days steadily watching the community ovens.
Our residents worked through multiple baking sessions to meet the ministry’s needs, producing batch after batch of cookies until several hundred were boxed and ready for delivery. The effort required teamwork, planning, and persistence, with residents returning to the kitchen again and again to see the project through.
Once the cookies were finished, residents shifted focus to another outreach effort. They participated in the Samaritan’s Purse gift box initiative. Resident ambassador Ruth M., serving as treasurer, tracked donations and purchases. Residents collected items to fill 20 gift boxes. Each box was assembled, packed, and shipped. Their work extended the community’s holiday generosity to families in need.
Where Creativity Meets the Spirit of Giving
Even with baking schedules and gift box deadlines, residents still found time for creativity. In between charitable projects, residents gathered with Morgan Croft from Marshall County Healthcare Center for a watercolor Christmas card session, adding an artistic pause to an otherwise busy holiday calendar.
The combination of baking, packing, and painting truly shows the energy and enthusiasm our residents bring to the holidays. Such activities give residents a chance to contribute, whether through service, organization, or creativity, and it’s wonderful to see how active and engaged they are!
“Our residents decided they were going to make hundreds of cookies for Kairos, then turned around and sponsored 20 boxes for Samaritan’s Purse, and somehow still had energy left to paint Christmas cards with Morgan,” said Sharion Walls, Executive Director at Bridgewood Gardens. “Ruth kept the whole gift box operation running smoothly as treasurer, which was no small task. Between the baking, the packing, and the painting, December has been one activity after another. We don’t mess around when it comes to the holidays.”
Experience a Community That Gives with Heart at Bridgewood Gardens
At Bridgewood Gardens, the holiday season is always about more than celebration. For our residents, it is a time for action, generosity, and building connections with the community. Residents are invited to take part in hands-on projects that reflect their values and help them make a meaningful difference.
Bridgewood Gardens is proud to serve Albertville and the surrounding areas, offering assisted living in a setting where purpose, connection, and involvement are part of daily life. We welcome you to contact us today to learn more about how our residents give back during the holidays and year-round.
