Frost volunteer arrives with unexpected Christmas spread
Friday, December 23, 2005 -- Craig Anderson
The weekly men’s luncheon group at Frost Manor was treated to a surprise roast beef Christmas dinner on Thursday, courtesy of new volunteer Jana Moore.

Jana, along with husband Rob, son Jared, and daughters Madison and Chelsea, lives a nomadic life. Cobeconk residents for only a small part of the year, Jana and family are on the road as missionaries for Reality Outreach Ministries, a non denominational Christian evangelist group.

The Moore family, who travel North America with 15 other families coordinating and setting up the “Heaven’s Gates, Hell’s Flames” play in churches, usually spend the holiday season in Canada.

This year, Jana and Vi O’Leary, Frost’s life enrichment coordinator, discussed having a special meal for the home’s residents. When Jana showed up with a full roast beef dinner Thursday morning, Vi was elated.

“This is such a wonderful Christmas story,” she says.

Jana first began volunteering at Frost when Myrtle Faulkner, her grandmother, was a resident. After Myrtle’s passing, Jana continued to volunteer, bringing in baked goods, reading stories, and running bingo. Her children, ages four to 10, are loved by the residents, she says. Jana adds that it’s important for her children to be exposed to the elderly.

“The Bible talks about how we should care for widows, orphans and the less fortunate, and I think it’s also important for my kids to learn to give as well as get used to seniors. They look forward to it as much as the residents do. My kids also love the bingo.”

“It’s special to them, they are always the new kids because we are always traveling but at Frost they identify the place with their grandmother and there is a sense of home.”

Vi, who calls the meal “special” because it was unexpected, is seconded by Jana, although for different reasons.

“It’s not turkey,” she says, laughing.