Gulf Coast Village fetes volunteers with Parisian-themed Volunteer Luncheon

Gulf Coast Village in Cape Coral celebrated its many volunteers and thanked them for their hard work with a Volunteer Luncheon on April 29. About 50 volunteers, both residents and outside volunteers, attended the Parisian-themed “Volunteers are Magnifiques!” lunch. Volunteers at Gulf Coast Village take on many jobs, including singing hymns, leading services, assisting residents in wheelchairs, and many more.

One of the more colorful volunteers is Susan Fitzpatrick, or “Lilly the Clown” as she’s known to residents. Fitzpatrick visits Gulf Coast Village every Thursday and spends several hours cheering up residents throughout the community. A clown for more than 30 years, she watched her father suffer from Alzheimer’s and wanted to do something to help those like him find joy and happiness. She started volunteering for Gulf Coast Village two years ago in The Cove, the memory care unit at Gulf Coast Village.

“I started out helping residents who had memory care issues, but now I spend time going throughout the whole community,” Fitzpatrick said. “I really enjoy being able to bring a smile to the faces of so many people.”

At the lunch, volunteers danced to music from singing duo Seabreeze and enjoyed quiche, Chicken Provencal, au gratin potatoes and crème brûlée. Each volunteer received an Eiffel Tower keychain and wine glass as a token of appreciation.

“Our volunteers do so much for us in so many ways, and we like to take the opportunity every year to thank them for their hard work,” said Sherrie Saidon, the lifestyles coordinator for independent living at Gulf Coast Village, who helped organize the lunch. “We’re truly grateful for all that they do, whether as residents or as members of the community at large, to make Gulf Coast Village the best continuing care retirement community in Southwest Florida.”

Founded more than 25 years ago, Gulf Coast Village is the premier Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in Cape Coral, Florida. Residents enjoy active independent living in an unparalleled lifestyle of comfort and convenience with a rich array of services and amenities that are focused on living well. The community also offers the security of knowing there is the full continuum of care when needed including: assisted living, skilled nursing, specialized memory support, home health and outpatient services. Gulf Coast Village is located at 1333 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral, FL 33991. For more information call 239-772-1333 or visit www.GulfCoastVillage.com.

Gulf Coast Village is sponsored by Volunteers of America, a national non-profit faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need rebuild their lives and reach their full potential. Volunteers of America was founded in 1896 and is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit providers of quality, affordable housing for seniors and a provider of professional long-term care including assisted living, home health care and nursing home care.