Compassionate Connections

Compassionate Connections is a faith-based, non-profit, non-denominational organization that coordinates volunteers within churches and the community at large to provide unmet needs in the Kearney area.

Service Provided by Caregiver Volunteers include:

• Meals during recovery
• Friendly visiting
• Light housekeeping during recovery
• Unmet transportation needs
• Telephone Reassurance
• Errands for homebound
• Commodity delivery to homebound

There is no cost to the individual for the services provided by caregiver volunteers. However, our non-profit program relies on charitable gifts for part of its funding. Donations to the program are tax deductible and greatly appreciated.

This program is part of a national program called “Faith In Action”. To become a caregiver volunteer or to request assistance of a volunteer call 308-865-5365.

What New:

9th Annual Compassionate Connections Garden Walk

Compassionate Connections will be presenting the 9th Annual Garden Walk in Kearney on Sunday, June 12th, 2011 from 1:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. The homes can be toured in any order and will end with refreshments provided by Barista’s.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska and at each garden the day of the walk.

The Garden Walk will be featuring 5 homes and finishing with refreshments from Barista’s in the garden of Tonniges & Associates at 204 East 25 th Street.

The gardens being featured are:

• Steve & Kari Schultz at 52 Lake Side Drive

The garden of Steve and Kari features a mix of flowers and shrubs with many of them being perennials. Many of the plants feature flowers that can be cut and displayed in bouquets. The backyard design centers around the rear patio with large groupings of vegetation. There are several varieties of grasses including Karl Forester, Little Bunny Pennisetum & Japanese Bloodgrass. Some of the plants in this garden are Pink Diamond, Little Lamb hydrangea, a lot of Coreopsis, Hosta and

Veronica. Additional features of this garden are a fireplace and water fountain.

• Judy Dering at 814 W. 23 rd Street

Judy moved to Kearney in 2005 from a desert climate and quickly found a home she wanted. In the fall of 2005 she renovated a yard of mostly grass to a nicely landscaped yard. A dry creek was added to the flower pond and we put in the bridge and lamp light with a stone path leading to the grandkids' playhouse. A blue spruce, lilac tree, ornamental tree, and several bushes and perennials were planted. Continued work on the garden includes adding different perennials and flowering vines with scattered bird houses and iron sculptures to give it the character I wanted. A garden is a loving work in progress.

• John & Julie Dinsmore at 4747 Ave. G

The gardens at the home of Julie and John Dinsmore have been a work in progress since 1983 when the home was built. Currently, there are about fifty varieties of perennial flowers and shrubs, as well as numerous annual flowers in the gardens. Some of the perennial flowers included are Bleeding hearts, Jacob’s ladder, Hasta, Day Lilies, Hydrangea, and many more. Other features include fountains, a kinetic wind sculpture, hanging baskets, a walled pocket garden, and patios made with salvaged brick from downtown Kearney streets. About 500 bricks were rescued from downtown streets during the 1980’s when many bricks were replaced by cement.

• Steve & Pam Mason at 311 Tahoe Drive

This home features a healing garden with a focus on plants and trees that have healing properties. This also includes many international trees such as a Chinese Gingko, Cypress trees, Mongolian Burr Oak and more. As naturalists and herbalists, a great amount of effort has been placed on planting vegetation that provides the habitat to support the area wild animals. There is a wide variety of other vegetation including ornamental grasses, Lilacs, Bleeding Heart, Daises and Rose of Sharon. The front includes garden gates designed by Steve as well as a flagstone sidewalk.

• Jan Winsor at 3 Arapahoe Lane

Included in this garden is a variety of trees, shrubs, roses, clematis, perennials, annuals and vegetables. It has no theme or plan but something is always blooming. There is lots of garden structure, a fountain, birdbaths and surprises. If you are lucky, you might spot one of the baby animals or baby birds.

Spring brings Forsythia, Grape Hyacinth, Daffodils and Tulips. A bleeding heart, Miss Kim Lilac, Creeping Phlox, Columbine, Iris, Coral Bells, Weigela, Salvia and peony bloom next. Before they are all finished, the clematis, miniature roses, David Austin English roses, red double Knock Out roses and America, a climbing rose, begin to bloom. The yard has many Hosta, grasses, some Lamium and Sedum. There are also Buddleia, Sand Cherry and Rose of Sharon shrubs. The property also has Magnolia, Linden and Crabapple trees.

• Refreshments provided by Barista’s in a garden by Tonniges & Associates at 204 East 25 th.

The Tonniges & Associates garden is not very old; it was started in the fall of 2009. At that time is was just an empty lot. Now it has a variety of perennials and annuals of many different colors. You will find all sorts of items for the plants to grow on including arbors, benches, bakers' rack, trellis, cart and a privacy fence. We have brightly colored hanging pots and many of the traditional plants in the berm areas. When I see something I like, it's hard not to bring it home......but then I have to find a spot for it. I'm trying to use the fence in the landscaping so this spring I came up with the idea to attach a double level of flowing potted plants.....can't wait till they reach their full size. It's a lot of work, but also a lot of enjoyment!!

The Garden Walk is presented by Compassionate Connections, a service of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) at Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska. All proceeds from the Garden Walk will go to support Compassionate Connections.

Compassionate Connections is a program that coordinates volunteers to assist in providing services to keep individuals independent in their homes. There are no income requirements and all of our services are provided by volunteers who receive no compensation, except the good feelings that come from helping others. The services provided by Compassionate Connections are companionship, grocery shopping, transportation, and light housekeeping.

Compassionate Connections also provides training through an Independent Living Support Class for volunteers to equip them to provide quality services to older persons. This training includes information about home safety, available community resources, Alzheimer’s disease, and communication skills. This class is held throughout the year and is open to the public. For more information about the Independent Living Support Class or Compassionate Connections contact Cheri Theesen at (308) 865-5365 or by e-mail at ctheesen@mnca.net.

Compassionate Connections receives funding from The Corporation for National and Community Services and Kearney Area United Way.