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Gary Martin recognized for volunteer
efforts at Mile Bluff – Fair View Nursing Home!
By Katie Nuttall
 During
the month of January, Gary Martin of Mauston is being recognized by Mile
Bluff Medical Center for his volunteer efforts at Fair View Nursing Home!
For the past two years, Gary has been
bringing Christmas cheer to the residents of Fair View Nursing Home by
playing Santa Claus at the annual Christmas party. “I was first
approached to play Santa by a fellow church member whose mother was a
resident at Fair View,” explains Gary. “The person who did play Santa had
recently passed away and my friend thought I would be the perfect person
to fill the role with my white beard. She talked me into it and
recommended me for the job.”
With his natural-white beard, Gary enjoys
playing Santa because it makes the residents happy. “I just love
everything about my role as Santa,” says Gary. “It’s fun to greet all of
the residents and see the smile on their faces. Seeing Santa brings back
a lot of good childhood memories for some of the residents; it brings them
back to a time when they were very joyous and happy.”
“It is so wonderful to see the smiles on
the residents’ faces when Gary or ‘Santa’ comes around to visit them,”
says Jill Finely, Recreation Services Coordinator at Fair View. “He has
been a great addition to our holiday events and we hope to have him be a
part of our team for years to come.”
After Gary hangs up his Santa suit for the
season, he keeps busy working at Custofoam Corporation, spending time
working on his mom’s farm, and volunteering with his wife at church. Gary
also enjoys riding motorcycles and completing small carpentry jobs.
Gary encourages other people to donate
their time, saying, “Start volunteering by spending time with residents
and getting to know them. You can do something simple, like sitting down
and talking with them. It’s these things that can make a big impact on
their days.”
To become a volunteer, at Mile Bluff –
Fair View Nursing Home in Mauston, like Gary, contact Jill Finley at
608-847-1290. If you would like to volunteer at Mile Bluff – Crest View
Nursing Home in New Lisbon, contact call Lorraine Anderson at
608-562-3667. For opportunities at Mile Bluff Medical Center or Terrace
Heights Retirement Community
in Mauston, contact Reverend Fairchild at
608-847-1285. There are opportunities available for individuals and
groups.
CAPTION:
During the month of January, Gary Martin is recognized for his
volunteering efforts at Mile Bluff – Fair View Nursing Home. Here Gary is
dressed as Santa Claus with Mrs. Claus (played by Alice Woods).
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