By KALIN KROHE
Panhandle Post
Highland Park Care Center in Alliance is raising funds to bring a parachute jumping team to the community for Nursing Home Week this May.
Nursing Home Week is May 8 - May 13. This year the theme is "Creating and Nurturing Connections".
"As most people know, we did the flyover, that was a kickoff to our Nursing Home Week the one year," Memory Support Household Nurse Coordinator DeeDee Behm said on KCOW radio. "COVID has kind of taken things down and things are settling down, they're not over. We still have our restrictions in the nursing home. But we thought, what a better way to kick off National Nursing Home Week and maybe kick off summer...and hopefully have a little bit more freedom this summer with having a parachute jump. So I did some research. And I found a group called The Patriot Parachute Team and contacted them. They are willing to come and help us do a performance for our residents. We thought what a better way to go with the theme of nurturing and creating connections than to include the community."
Behm said Highland Park Care Center asked the parachute team to give them a quote for two parachute jumpers.
"They will jump with a flag and smoke and just give us a performance," Behm said. "And when they're done jumping, they'll hang around so that everybody can visit with them and take pictures...and answer any questions. We thought we would do that on Sunday, May 8 for Mother's Day for anybody traveling in. So that's kind of our plan. We're still in the finality of getting the details. We need to raise the money so that we can make this happen for our residents and the community."
Behm said their original goal was to raise $8,500, but Highland Park is anticipating it will be $6,300.
Behm said people can donate by Paypal and Venmo[@Deedee-Behm], call Highland park at (308) 762-2525 or (308) 760-2686.
"We've already gotten some donations," Behm said. "I have a couple of businesses that have already committed. I'm just waiting to hear for sure how much. I also contacted the chamber and the chamber is helping us as well as Chelsie Herian. She is reaching out and she's going to help us promote and see if we can't make this a great community event."
The Alliance Chamber of Commerce is also accepting donations for Highland Park.
"If we can get all of our donations by March 31; that way we can secure the date, that would be fantastic," Behm said.