Macdonald Center Blog

Folks in Our Community: Peace in the Courtyard

Monday, September 21, 2009

First shared in July 2008

Summer has finally come to the Center. We watch our residents enjoying the peace and warmth in our beautiful courtyard. The vine maples provide moving patterns on the cement and dappled shade for people to sit in. There is space among the plants for wheel chairs.

Two of the residents set up a domino game that covers an entire table top. They sit in the sun, concentrating on their game.

One of the people living in the neighborhood who suffers from extreme anxiety and paranoia due to severe fetal alcohol syndrome comes and finds some peace sitting in the sun, drinking her cup of coffee. Her husband is dying and she uses the courtyard as a retreat from the painful realities and non-realities which make up her life.

Another of our residents, whose moods swing radically throughout the day, finds solace in the plants. At one time she studied agriculture and she shares the remnants of her knowledge as she sits on her walker among the plants. She thinks we need a wisteria climbing up the wall.

Today we at the Center gave an appreciation party for the staff at the Residence. One of the staff members said she loves working at the Macdonald Center because, “Outsiders are welcome here.”

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Folks in Our Community: Changing Lives

Monday, September 21, 2009

First shared in June 2008

This month we honored Fr. Berg and Mary Sue Richen who received an award from the City of Portland for their outstanding contribution to helping the homeless. Mary Catherine, one of our neighbors asked to express her gratitude to the Macdonald Center, Fr. Berg and Mary Sue. I would like to share her words with you:

What the Macdonald Center has done for me:

I have lived in the neighborhood for 7 years with a mental illness and little hope for the future. The Macdonald Center changed my life. I received an abundance of love, caring, and the gift of a new beginning from the Macdonald Center.

I still want to pinch myself when I wake every morning now. I have a place to go when no one, friends or family, want me around, because of my illness. Because of my mental illness, people think there is something wrong with me. They think I am no good, I have nothing to give my family and nothing to give to society.

I don’t need an appointment to talk to someone at the Macdonald Center. They have ears to hear my story, to listen to my broken heart. They accept me and like me. They don’t pass judgment on me.

The Macdonald Center offers activities like the Women’s Group and Writers’ Workshop. When I need something to do, they come up with a volunteer job for me.

The Macdonald Center has given me my self esteem back. Now I feel like I can go on and go out and help other people. I have a lot to be thankful for.

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