The Catskill Chronicle

Story and photos by Carol Montana

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY – Reverend Carlotta D. Wilson, pastor of Word of Life Church in Youngsville has been ministering to the elderly of the community for almost 13 years. “I’ve seen very often that the elderly are isolated and lonely,” said Rev. Wilson. “They are separated from society. My interest is to bring them back into the mainstream of society and to integrate them with our youth.”

To that end, Reverend Wilson and large contingent of community members have created Dayspring Elder Center, scheduled to open in June at the Jeffersonville Presbyterian Church.

And on Saturday, April 24, an event was held at the church to introduce Dayspring to the community and raise much-needed startup funds.

Guest speakers included several registered nurses: Kathleen Anderson – Director of Adult Day Care at Catskill Regional Medical Center (CRMC), Patty Armstrong – Assistant Executive Director of Sullivan ARC and former Chief Nursing Officer at CRMC, Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, and Carol Ryan – Director of Sullivan County Public Health Nursing.

Dayspring gets its name from the Gospel of Luke: 1:78-79: “…the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Seniors who are eligible for this new program are those who are frail and have some sort of limitation and are home alone, but can still get around, says Rev Wilson, who hopes that the Center will take some of the burden off the caregivers.

Rev. Wilson is encouraging the community to get involved. “We have partnered with other churches to bring their young people in to entertain, to do gardening,” she said. “We’ve partnered with Job Corps in Callicoon whose students will be helping in the culinary arts, cooking the meals and integrating the elderly in the preparation of the meals. We hope to get the Girl Scouts, 4H club and others because we believe that the elderly have something to offer.”

The program will provide breakfast and lunch, offer choices of recreational, faith-based, and educational pursuits, as well as assist with overall well being in a loving, supervised and safe atmosphere. Everyone is welcome, said Rev. Wilson, no matter what their faith or beliefs.

Because Rev. Wilson and the startup committee know that they can’t do it by themselves, they are “asking that the community become a part of it,” said Wilson. “We will embrace the elderly and take them in as full participants of our society. We want the community to get involved in volunteer activities, coming in and sitting with them, making friends with them, being available, giving them a phone call.”

Saturday’s event was catered by the Delaware Valley Job Corps food service program students under the direction of Alice Guss, the head of the culinary department at the school. “It was such an elegant presentation,” said Rev. Wilson. The young people were professional and kind and loving and enthusiastic.”

In addition to the guest speakers and refreshments, Elvis’ Lost Brother, Eric Bressi had the crowd rocking in the church aisles with his renditions of C.C. Ryder, Burnin’ Love and Blue Suede Shoes.

“This place is so awesome,” said Bressi, who together with his wife, Ruth, were caregivers for his mom for several years.  

He then turned serious and more contemplative as he wowed the crowd with his rendition of “How Great Thou Art,” which he described as his favorite song. 

There are currently no public funds available for the project, but Rev. Wilson, who, in addition to her pastoral duties is also the founder, president and administrator of Dayspring Elder Center says, “We’re not waiting for them.” 

And that’s where the public comes in. For more information on Dayspring Elder Center, to volunteer your time or to make a monetary donation, call Reverend Carlotta D. Wilson at 845-482-4584.

To view more photos, or to purchase prints from Dayspring Elder Center Becomes a Reality in Jeffersonville, visit The Catskill Chronicle on Zenfolio.