Adult Day Services’ ‘Summer Breezes' fundraiser is June 11
By Brandon A. Evans
Each day, the archdiocesan Catholic Social Services Adult Day Services staff works to bring hope and charity into the lives of seniors in the Indianapolis area, but it is a ministry that cannot exist without the generosity of others.
Each year, the agency sponsors its major fundraiser titled “Summer Breezes” to help with operating expenses.
The fourth annual dinner and auction will be held on June 11 at Marian Inc., 1011 E. St. Clair St., in Indianapolis. The social hour will begin at 6:30 p.m., with dinner at 7:30 p.m. and dancing at 9 p.m. During the evening, a silent auction will take place. The cost is $50 per person.
All money raised supports the outreach of the two Catholic Social Services Adult Day Services sites—Holy Trinity Place and A Caring Place in Indianapolis.
Lula Baxter, program director of Adult Day Services, said the silent auction is an important source of donations for the event and encouraged anyone who wishes to donate an item for the auction to do so.
Last year, the event netted about $15,000.
Providence Sister Susan Dinnin, site manager of A Caring Place, said that her facility serves about 15-20 seniors per day at the cost of $85 per person, per day—little of which is paid for by each client.
Sister Susan and her staff provide the seniors with a hot meal as well as the chance to read the newspaper, have discussions, take a walk outside, read Scripture, play games, and exercise both mind and body.
These day care services are an attempt to help the seniors, and also to relieve families and caregivers whose only other option may have been a nursing home or some other kind of institution.
“Trying to offer this kind of program to families is very challenging because it requires a high ratio of staff to participants, and so Adult Day Services is a very expensive program to operate,” Sister Susan said. “We definitely rely on the outside community for support.”
Finances are still tight, she said, but the work to keep operating the program has been worth it.
“The [past] year has been a very good one for us at A Caring Place,” she said. “Our people have formed wonderful friendships during the year and just enjoy coming here.”
Sister Susan said that the upcoming “Summer Breezes” event is often attended by some of the senior citizens who are served by Adult Day Services, and there is a “wonderful spirit” to the evening.
She said the event is just one reminder that the work of Adult Day Services is an important part of the life of the archdiocese.
“It’s a mission of the Church to reach out to those in need,” Sister Susan said, “and enable families who are in crisis to continue to care for their elderly family members.”
(For more information about “Summer Breezes” or to reserve a ticket, call Louise Collet at 317-251-0626. To donate money, volunteer time or make an offering for the silent auction, call Lula Baxter at 317-236-1527 or 800-382-9836, ext. 1527). †