Community makes Valentine’s Day special

Photo courtesy of Licking Residential Care
Ronald Haaland and Tina Wade received the most votes and were chosen the Valentine King and Queen at Licking Residential Care.

Photo by Shari Harris
From left, Store Manager Teresa Countryman, Asst. Mgr. Laurie Urquhart and Associate Faith Walraven were dwarfed by the bevy of balloons going to Hickory Manor on Saturday. Asst. Mgr. Shyla Cox was in charge of this year’s event, but was unable to be present on the day the balloons were delivered.

Licking Residential Care turned their Valentine celebration into a fundraiser for the Residents’ Activity Fund. Visitors, staff and residents voted with pennies or more for their choice for the Valentine King and Queen. The votes were tallied on Friday, February 13, and $224.00 was raised for the Residents’ Activity Fund. This year’s King and Queen were Ronald Haaland and Tina Wade.

Tina is a Licking native. Her roots run deep and so does her love for her community. She was a phenomenal babysitter in her younger days.

Ronald is from Wisconsin. He has a brother and sister-in-law here. Ronald drove a medical transport van in his younger days, helping folks get back and forth to medical appointments.

The community went above and beyond to make Valentine’s Day special for the residents. Sonshine & Rainbow Dayschool sang for the residents and brought in gifts. Boone Creek Baptist Church brought cookies and cards. Joan Brannam at TJ’s Flowers and Gifts gave roses to every resident. Kay and Stanley Shelton supplied chocolate covered strawberries for all to enjoy. And Family Dollar customers purchased balloons in the preceding weeks, with Family Dollar staff delivering 120 balloons to residents at Hickory Manor and 47 to Licking Residential Care on Saturday.