“My favorite part about going to Marycrest is the residents! The residents are always willing to welcome me into their homes. They never fail to put a smile on my face with their jokes and life stories. Despite their mood, they are always willing to engage in a conversation. My favorite thing about visiting the residents is that I always learn something new and gain valuable life lessons through the residents’ stories of their own upbringing and experiences. Instead of me helping them, the residents at Marycrest are helping me instead by guiding me on how to navigate life.

Although I can’t do much to improve their health, I just want the residents to know that there are people that care for them and that they are not forgotten. Today, we live in a world where the elderly are abandoned because they are seen as a burden. People forget that the elderly are still human beings and that they gave everything the younger generation they needed to become the people they are today. Going to Marycrest is a way for me to say thank you to the elderly and to give them the love and respect that they deserve.”

“What I love about serving at Marycrest so much is how it is a continuation of my greatest passions in life: health and human connection. At Marycrest, I am allowed to integrate my passions and talents into my service so that I can fully engage in learning experiences and develop a closer relationship with God. It is a true representation of Ignatian and Carmelite values.”

“Volunteering at Marycrest Manor gave me a deeper appreciation for the wisdom and kindness elderly people have. It brought a smile to my face every week being around people who have so much to teach and give to my generation.”

For the last three years of her life, my grandma lived in a skilled nursing facility back home in the Bay Area. I would go and visit her religiously every day with my mom, and throughout the years, I formed close bonds with not only her friends, but other residents that would hang out with us in the common area.

Fast forward to now, and I couldn’t be happier with where I am in my life and going to Marycrest. Visiting with the residents has fulfilled me spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually more than I could have ever imagined. My first few visits were hard because I felt uncomfortable with being in a new place with its own routine and ebb and flow. However, the sisters, nurses, and residents made me feel welcomed and appreciated and it didn’t take long to find a home away from home. It truly is the little things that make my days that much brighter: playing Rummikub on Friday afternoons, having conversations with the residents on their way back from Sunday morning mass, or even just going on walks around the rose garden.

I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for my own life and blessings, and I know that being there for the Marycrest residents, whether they’re having a good or bad day, makes it all worthwhile. In friendship, love, and service, the residents have a special place in my heart, and I see the image of God in all of them every time I go.