By Analiz G. Schremmer
Buckner International

SAN ANGELO—A gift of 300,000 will change the living experience of 60 residents at Buckner Retirement Services’ Baptist Retirement Community.

The donation, which came from the San Angelo Health Foundation, will change the current environment to allow for flexibility and a more home-like dining experience through the construction of country kitchens.

“It is truly a blessing to have others give generously to empower our organization to improve the lives of the elders we serve,” said Quinda Feil-Duncan, executive director for Baptist Retirement Community in San Angelo.

Pat Crump, vice president of operations for Buckner Retirement Services, said that if it hadn’t been for the donation, we would not be able to make this change in the near future.

“We are very thankful and excited about making this new dining experience something that will be truly gratifying for each resident,” he said.

Wes Wells, who serves as Sagecrest Alzheimer’s Care Center and Green House Administrator, said the country kitchens are going to create a home environment for the residents.

“They are going to have this warm, aroma-inviting dining area that will be a gathering point for visiting, delicious food and fun activities,” Wells said. “Because we can serve breakfast for two and three hours, early risers and late sleepers will both be accommodated.

“It’ll be a fantastic improvement,” he added. “It will allow them to savor the aroma of food cooking and enjoy the experience with their friends. This is a culture change that is putting elders first. We knew we wanted to do this from listening to what the residents, family members and staff shared.”

Jim Cummings, who is currently a member of the Buckner board of regents and once served as a trustee at the Baptist Memorials Ministries, expressed his enthusiasm about the gift.

“It is very gratifying to see that Buckner is in a position to participate in major renovations to our campus as a whole and we have a lot of opportunities,” Cummings said. “We are very thankful that the San Angelo Health Foundation is going to help us meet one of these needed renovations and improvements.”