In an effort to help spread some holiday cheer, Spruce Pine Police Chief Bill Summerlin, adorned in Santa Claus attire, visited the local assisted living facilities on Friday, Dec. 18.
Due to recent outbreaks of COVID-19 at both Mitchell House and the Brian Center along with other safety concerns regarding the coronavirus, Summerlin didn’t go inside to meet the residents, but rather went around the buildings and waved to residents inside their rooms through the windows.
“It’s the Lord’s work and it’s the right thing to do,” Summerlin said. “These folks have been shut in since March and haven’t really gotten to lay eyes on nothing other than a mask on the faces of folks who work here.
“Right now, for them, it’s day in and day out in a small room, for the most part. These are good folks up here and they deserve a little Christmas joy.”
Other than spread his holiday spirit, the police chief added he wanted to draw community attention to the assisted living facilities and how people can give back.
“I’m not doing it for me,” Summerlin added. “I just want people to know that there are living souls here and at the Brian Center and they don’t need to be forgotten about. We did the fireworks earlier this year and that was good and the parades this summer and now this, but I think the community needs to do a little bit more. I really do love these folks.”
Summerlin added he hopes that one day, if he’s in a facility like Mitchell House or the Brian Center, someone will give back in a similar way.
“This is going to be us one day,” he said. “And when it’s us, we’re going to hope people do the same. I look at as kind of a paying-it-forward kind of deal. If I end up in a place like this when I’m older, I would hope someone will at least poke their head in and say hello.”
Summerlin also brought snacks and small gifts, like gloves and lotion, for residents as Christmas gifts, although he delivered them in large trash bags rather than a satchel like Santa Claus.
Mitchell House Executive Director Tennille Garofalo greeted Summerlin and said the gifts and his visit provided a great deal of happiness in what has been a tough year on both staff and residents.
“It has been a very difficult year,” Garofalo said. “The gifts bring a great deal of joy to our residents. It also helps our employees, who are working diligently to care for residents. And when our staff, as care givers, sees the joy it brings our residents that give us all hope. And that is really what Christmas is all about.”