For over 25 years, people have made an annual pilgrimage to a city on Alabama’s eastern border.
The reason they travel so far is Phenix City Health Care’s Family Day Picnic. Its held every year on an early October Saturday.
“The event has grown to where we’ve had families come from as far away as California and Texas,” Phenix City Health Care Administrator Sherry Ginn said. “Our residents are filled with excitement weeks in advance in anticipation, as we decorate in preparation.”
Invitations are sent to residents’ families beginning in July so they have plenty of time to plan for travel. This year, more than 375 people made the trip for the October 11 event.
Over 375 people attend Phenix City Health Care’s Family Day Picnic on Saturday, October 11, 2014.
Children enjoyed face painting and crazy hair with students from Woodland Baptist Church while adults relaxed and listened to a DJ. Everyone enjoyed a fantastic picnic lunch with Care Ambulance cooking barbeque and the nursing home’s dietary staff providing all the trimmings.
A community event of this size is quite an undertaking, but well worth it.
“Our team’s hard work is rewarded as we see families of all ages, all walks, join together in laughter and love,” Ginn said. “We have children swinging, others running and some dancing to the music. Our resident’s smiles and chatter goes on for days. How blessed we are to be a part.”
New Playground
Families enjoy Phenix City Health Care’s new playground during the Family Day Picnic on Saturday, October 11, 2014.
One of the main children’s attractions at the picnic is Phenix City Health Care’s playground. In 2007, a visitor donated a playground after noticing children from a local daycare joining the nursing home residents for an Easter egg hunt. That well used playground was replaced with a new one earlier this year.
“This added benefit heightens the number of children wanting to visit loved ones here,” Ginn added.
About Phenix City Health Care:
Phenix City Health Care is an 86-bed skilled nursing center located in Phenix City, AL. Sherry Ginn is the Administrator and Sharon Baker is the Director of Nursing.
One of the elaborate decorations at Phenix City Health Care’s Family Day Picnic on Saturday, October 11, 2014.
Some of Phenix City Health Care’s staff members at the center’s Family Day Picnic on Saturday, October 11, 2014.
