Lynn Sibley and Sandy McKee of Manorville UMC are serving as the 2019-2020 Mission Ambassadors. Here's a report of their first official trip.
We made our first trip as Mission Ambassadors to the Ruth M. Smith Center in Sheffield, PA, a ministry of the national UMW organization. We were so impressed with interim director Kim Adams, who took us around the campus, introduced us to staff and residents and answered all our questions.
We immediately sensed the loving, caring and homey atmosphere provided at the Center for the elderly, physically and mentally challenged adults, as well as the infants, toddlers and youngsters at the Day Care/Pre School. While there are plenty of challenges involved in keeping the almost 100-year-old facility going, the center provides a clean, cheerful and welcoming atmosphere of mutual respect and caring.
We were surprised that there was an actual campus with several buildings and not just the one historic Victorian structure. The main house is the home to offices and the women residents. A lot of the original woodwork is preserved and almost every spacious room has a fireplace. Two other more modern buildings house the male residents, daycare and main kitchen. A huge community center provides a gymnasium and weight room used by the town and local school.
The Ruth Smith Center is a place that United Methodists should treasure and work to ensure that it succeeds in a time when providing such care at a reasonable cost is increasingly difficult. We are praying that churches, charges, districts, as well as individuals and organizations, will consider supporting the center. There are lists of needed supplies and tasks for volunteer groups that can be requested. Monetary donations are gratefully accepted too. Let’s keep this gem in the heart of the Alleghenies going strong well into the future.
To contact the center: 814-968-3238 or RMSC@westpa.net
Blessings,
Sandy McKee and Lynn Sibley