News and Events

Know Who Needs You – Lois

News
  Know Who Needs You - #2 It is our pleasure to share the second in our series of holiday postcards: Know Who Needs You. Thanks to all of you for not looking away! Your support and generosity provide our Elders a year-long gift of dignity, safety, community and care for which they are all deeply grateful.   Meet Lois: Two days each week, when you come through the front door of St. Luke's Home,  Lois' smiling face greets you. Pictured above right with Sadie, high- school-volunteer extraordinaire, Lois' kind and gentle ways are appreciated by all. You can often find her in the hall near the med room reading the Arizona Daily Star or in the dining room. No matter the time of day, her smile is always at the ready.…
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St. Luke’s CEO Advocates for Elder Housing Solutions

St. Luke’s CEO Advocates for Elder Housing Solutions

News
[caption id="attachment_5329" align="aligncenter" width="500"] L'Don Sawyer, CEO of St. Luke's Home[/caption] Important Op Ed by CEO L'Don Sawyer that was published in the December 10th Arizona Daily Star. L'Don is Chair of the regional Elder Alliance Older Adult and Housing Action Team. A 76-year old woman tearfully told her story of living in a van after her two sisters died of cancer last year and then her van was hit by a car, demolishing her mobility and home. “My life is in storage in Sierra Vista,” she shared. Mary lost her home in the foreclosure crisis and lives now with an 80-year old who provides her a room in exchange for services around his home. A World War II vet lost his “job” house-sitting and was desperately seeking housing. “I…
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Know Who Needs You – Edna

News
    Know Who Needs You - #1 This marks the third year we are honored to share our holiday Know Who Needs You postcard sent weekly in December so you can better know the amazing people who live at St. Luke's. Thanks to all of you for not looking away. Your support and generosity provide our Elders the dignity, safety, community and care all of them deserve.     Meet Edna: For 24-years, St. Luke's has been home to Edna, who holds the record for living in our community longer than anyone there today. A native of Buffalo, NY, she speaks fondly of cars with rumble seats (great for dates!), penny candy at the movies, and playing center on her school basketball team because she was tallest. Her first job…
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December 2018 Newsletter

Newsletter
St. Luke's Home December Newsletter      St. Luke's Elders and Staff Learn How to Identify and Stop Bullying   Robin Bonifas, PhD, MSW, discussed her book and offered practical advice to St. Luke's Elders and staff on how to identify bullying and help stop bullying when it does happen. Bonifas (pictured above center in lime-green scarf) is the author of Bullying Among Older Adults and is an Assistant Professor at the School of Social Work at Arizona State University. According to Bonifas, there is a growing body of research on peer bullying among Elders who live communally. Bonifas defines bullying as "verbal, physical or antisocial behaviors that occur in the context of social relationships." She pointed out, "Like youths, victims of senior bullying experience considerable emotional distress." As shown in…
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SAHBA Orchestrates St. Luke’s Beautification

SAHBA Orchestrates St. Luke’s Beautification

News
  When David Godlewski, president of the Southern Arizona Home Builders, first read about St. Luke's 100-year celebrations, he scheduled a visit to St. Luke's and asked CEO L'Don Sawyer, "How can I help?" A brief tour of St. Luke's quickly revealed the need for rejuvenation of the iron work and steel structures in front of St. Luke's, including in the East Courtyard where the kick-off event was held. Godlewski gathered several of his members including AB LeCocq Construction and the Home Builders Institute (HBI), which brought in a group of students to do the prepping. Dunn-Edwards donated all of the paint required. (Pictured above are John Gallagher of HBI in green and Octavio Mendivils of AB LeCocq Construction). As Godlewski said, “We are honored to have played a small…
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St. Luke’s Elder Edna Speaks at 100-Year Celebration Kick-Off

St. Luke’s Elder Edna Speaks at 100-Year Celebration Kick-Off

News
  Family and friends of St. Luke's Home showed up in large numbers on Sunday, October 28th for the official kick-off of the 100th anniversary of St. Luke's in the Desert. The afternoon event, catered by St. Luke's Home's Melissa Hernandez and her talented staff, was held in the East Courtyard among St. Luke's gardens and freshly painted fencing and entry spaces. Edna (pictured above CEO L'Don Sawyer) had a featured speaking role. She shared her recollections of the nearly quarter century she has lived at St. Luke's, and noted how grateful she is to reside in a community of such beauty. The kick-off event was the result of months of planning by the 100-Year Committee, (pictured above second from top). Committee members pictured from left to right: Amanda Johnson…
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November 2018 Newsletter

Newsletter
  St. Luke's Home November         100th Anniversary Events Kick Off at St. Luke's Family and friends of St. Luke's Home showed up in large numbers on Sunday, October 28th for the official kick-off of the 100th anniversary of St. Luke's in the Desert. The afternoon event, catered by St. Luke's Home's Melissa Hernandez and her talented staff, was held in the East Courtyard among St. Luke's gardens and freshly painted fencing and entry spaces (see story below). Edna (pictured at top with CEO L'Don Sawyer) had a featured speaking role. She shared her recollections of the nearly quarter century she has lived at St. Luke's, and noted how grateful she is to reside in a community of such beauty. The kick-off event was the result of…
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October 2018 Newsletter

Newsletter
  St. Luke's Home October Newsletter       Family and Friends Come Together at St. Luke's The St. Luke's community comprises not just our Elders but also the many family and friends who are most important in Elders' lives. On Sunday evening, September 30th, the St. Luke's dining room overflowed with St. Luke's extended family. "We forget how large the St. Luke's family is," said Sally Krommes, program grants manger who helped organize the event. "It is wonderful to see the entire family together, sharing food and conversation." Krommes, the official photographer for the evening, will provide copies of the pictures to the Elders. As part of the program, St. Luke's shared a power-point presentation with highlights of the last year at St. Luke's. And, of course, Culinary Director Melissa…
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Makeover Magic for the St. Luke’s Van!

Makeover Magic for the St. Luke’s Van!

News
St. Luke's van, which transports our Elders at no extra charge for shopping and other special occasions, had grown a bit worn and shabby from it years of service to St. Luke's Elders. Not any more!  Thanks to Az Litho, the vision of CEO L'Don Sawyer, Raim & Associates and the financial support of the Board of Visitors, the van is now wrapped in a cover that matches St. Luke's Report to the Community. A stunning, and highly  public display of the faces of our Elders, the beauty of our grounds and the pride and dignity that is central to St. Luke's. Today, we can all be proud of St. Luke's expanded presence in Southern Arizona as expressed through our brochures, annual reports, op eds  and other communications. Upgrading and beautifying…
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September 2018 Newsletter

Newsletter
  St. Luke's Home September Newsletter        St. Luke's Celebrates A Century of Service   The Reverend Julius Atwood in 1917 dreamed of opening a community care facility for tubercular patients in Tucson, Arizona. He set to work, engaged community members and transformed his vision into St. Luke’s Home. Over the years, St. Luke’s changed to serve different populations in need: a shelter for men, a children’s clinic and today’s holistic assisted-living community that provides quality housing, care and lifelong learning for low-income Elders. St. Luke’s has thrived thanks to the strong commitment of so many special people over the years: members of the Board of Directors, dedicated donors and the volunteer services of the Board of Visitors, which stands as one of the oldest female volunteer organizations…
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