When Sue Hess’ mom, Daisy Asplund, moved into Good Samaritan Society – Ridge View Estates in Pipestone, Minnesota, she was inspired to share her love of crafts and teach a class for residents.
I thought it would be fun to share my talents and give back to make other people happy." – Sue Hess, volunteer at Good Samaritan Society – Ridge View Estates
For her first class, a group of 12 residents spent an afternoon making Easter bunnies to hang on their doors for spring decorations.
“It was fun to see them interact and spend time together doing the project,” she says.
Once Sue’s sister, Sherry Sesso, heard about the crafts class, she wanted to volunteer too. Shortly after that, “my sister Colette said, ‘I want to come,’ and that’s how it turned into the four of us,” says Sue.
The fourth person is Sue’s granddaughter, Catherine, who helps residents choose their paint colors and hands out supplies.
“Some of them (residents) have never painted before, and to do it and complete it, it warms your heart when you see that they created something they’re proud of,” she says.
At the end of her most recent class, Sue and her sisters received hugs from the group. One resident wanted to know when the next class was scheduled for, and when she found out said, “We have to wait that long?”
Sue's family has been active with the Society since their dad, Garrit Spronk, was a resident of Good Samaritan Society – Pipestone before he died in 2009. Sue believes part of her passion for crafts comes from watching her dad work with wood during her childhood.
With plans in place for the next crafting class, Sue says an afternoon with residents at Ridge View Estates “is just my little donation to give back.”
