Heavenly Angels seeks to help more seniors
Since 2012, Marrise McKnight, of Spencer, has had one mission: bringing love to the elderly and making sure they never feel forgotten.
She does this through a group she has founded, Heavenly Angels. The No. 1 goal is to give at least one nursing home each December a Christmas party complete with gifts, refreshments and, of course, good cheer filled with ample helpings of love.
McKnight was driven to help seniors after the experience of her late-mother Adell Jerdean Freeman. “She asked me never to put her in a nursing home,” she recalled. She didn’t. Her mom moved in with her until her death in March 2010. “She was scared nobody would remember her in a nursing home.”
That experience was compounded with memories of an older brother, who had a stroke and went to a nursing home.
McKnight remembers siblings not visiting him frequently. “It all just touched my heart,” she said. “I just couldn’t let it all happen to others and not do anything.”
In the past, McKnight, 48, has used her own funds and held benefits to help fund gifts and other outreach. She’s assisted in her mission by 23 volunteers. “We can always use more (volunteers),” she said.
Last year, the group held their Christmas party at Grace Living Center in Oklahoma City and helped 70 seniors. This Dec. 9, the party will be at Brookdale Senior Living Solutions in south Oklahoma City. An estimated 36 seniors will be having a party on that date.
“For some of these people, just getting a Christmas card is very special for them,” she said. “It might be the only card they get.”
To assist Heavenly Angels, Megan Garton, of Edmond, is a grant writer looking to increase the nonprofit’s visibility within the metro area.
Garton said the group’s mission statement is to enhance the social, financial and emotional wellbeing of seniors. “Heavenly Angels are an excellent example of the philanthropic heart of Oklahomans,” Garton said.
Citing statistics from the Oklahoma Association of Health Care Providers, Garton said only 63 percent of nursing home residents have children, and many do not have local, immediate family. “This means they are alone during the holidays,” Garton said.
That’s what McKnight wants to change. She wants music and Christmas carol singing to brighten the day of residents. Although she believes in giving of herself to the residents, she knows she probably receives more in the long run. “I enjoy the smiles and hugs,” she said. “I just love it.”
It’s McKnight and Garton’s dream that proper funding might lead to an expansion in the ministry. Ideally, they would like to have Christmas parties for multiple senior centers as well as distribute vouchers for medications and food. They’d also like to resume giving on other special holidays, including Easter, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Garton said budget restraints have forced them to curtail some of that.
“Heavenly Angels is hoping to expand programs to provide services to seniors who reside in both centers and homes,” Garton said.
For now, donations and volunteers are always welcomed. McKnight encouraged those interested to contact her via email at heavenlyangels.np@gmail.com or call her at 405-921-2141. For more information, go to www.heavenlyangelsnonprofit.com.