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A. Building a Legacy Together: Stewards of the Second Century

2023 marks a Century of Service by the Bethany organization to the Seniors of Southeast Georgia.  On the 4th of July 1923 in a wooded grove outside the City of Vidalia, a home was established for seven widows who had no home or family to care for them.  Elder R. H. Barwick of the Primitive Baptist Denomination saw a need and with the help of additional Trustees, a ministry called Faith Cottage was begun.  It was a simple act of obedience to the command of God to “love God and love your neighbor” in accordance with James 1:27 [“[t]o visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction”] that set in motion an unprecedented history of service to others.  

Widows are mentioned 123 times in the Bible.  The original and current Board of Trustees of Bethany subscribes to the premise that this group of individuals were important to God in that He told us to make provision for those who cannot take care of themselves.  In the most recent years of COVID-19 we have experienced exponentially more and more Seniors who have presented with complex healthcare needs and that do not necessarily have the resources to be able to fully sustain the expenses associated with the provision of Assisted Living.

The Care Assurance Benevolent Care Grant Program is just one of the ways to address the Biblical call to “help the widows” when there are individuals who may outlive their resources through no fault of their own.  This need has become more important than ever and more prevalent than ever and is expected to move to new heights in the coming years.  Sustaining the promise of benevolent care for generations to come is possible by becoming a member of the Stewards of the Second Century and donating resources to fund Bethany’s Care Assurance Benevolent Care Program that is designed to assist our Residents who have outlived their resources through no fault of their own. 

As the name indicates, Stewards of the Second Century is an opportunity to sustain the promise of benevolent care for generations to come.

B. Appreciation in its Truest Form and most Direct:  The Christmas Fund

Each year during the Holiday Season from Thanksgiving to Christmas, TFAB receives gifts in the form of immediate cash donations from Residents and Families in honor of Staff members’ contributions and dedication to our Residents and their Families.  These have been consistently matched by the TFAB Board of Trustees and then distributed to the Staff Members during this annual Christmas Celebration.  Over the past several years these cash donations and the match allowed TFAB to distribute an average of $25,000 each year in “bonuses” to our Staff members as a sign of appreciation from our Residents and Board, recognition of well-deserved dedication and commitment to The Bethany Belief of being “Called to Serve.” 

C. Educational Scholarships

Residents, both current and former, and their Families often ask what they might do to honor those who unselfishly provide the person-centered, quality healthcare to Seniors for which Bethany has become known to provide.  To that end, two Staff Scholarship Programs have been established to recognize and say “thank you” to those Staff Members who are not only building longevity and thus long-term relationship with our Residents but also making daily impact on so many Residents.  Giving to either of these scholarships represents a way to go beyond the daily appreciation of a Resident and/or Family and makes a greater impact going forward for other Residents while benefiting the Staff members’ own life and work.  

1. The Burt Price Scholarship: Named in honor of long-time Board Member Burt Price, the Price Family provided the seed money to establish a Scholarship in his honor and memory.  Mr. Price served the Board of Trustees honorably during his lifetime and until his death due to Alzheimer’s disease.  His legacy of service within the Primitive Baptist denomination and specifically on the Board of Trustees of Bethany provided inspirational leadership, thoughtful guidance, and willingness to help wherever and whenever needed, characteristics that now live on in the Scholarship recipients who have furthered their education and experience in senior care and specifically memory care for those served by The Lodge and The Cottages at Bethany. 

2. The Nancy Alford Scholarship: Established by Nancy Alford’s Family in honor of “Mrs. Nancy,” a long-time educator in Georgia and South Carolina, who was a Resident at The Lodge at Bethany from 01 September 2016 until her death on 01 February 2019.  The Scholarship is a living testament to a believer in life-long earning who led by example.  She was an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction, loved solving word puzzles, and never shied away from new learning experiences.  It was in this spirit that she consistently encouraged her caregivers to pursue their dreams and further their education; therefore, this legacy allows the opportunity for Staff Members of The Lodge to rise to a level of self-improvement and career advancement. 

With your help, we can keep the wheels rolling for our wonderful Residents! Learn More Here