10 · SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2017 AWAY TO GIVE BACK YOUR WISH IS THEIRCOMMAND Cherie Dixon is accustomed to people not knowing about the national nonprofit for which she heads up the Washington County chapter called Twilight Wish Foundation. “I tell them, ‘Have you heard of Make-AWish? We do sort of the same thing, except for deserving seniors,’ and then the lightbulb goes off,’” Dixon said. The foundation, which was founded in 2003 in Doylestown, north of Philadelphia, grants wishes for seniors older than 68 who are permanent residents of care facilities and do not have the financial capability to make the wishes come true themselves. Wishes are broken down into four categories: Simple Needs Wishes, which can include clothing, dentures and hearing aids; Celebrating a Life Wishes, which are nostalgic wishes — such as a visit to a hometown or to see a family member — for those on hospice care or who have short life expectancies; Living Life to the Fullest Wishes, which include attending a big event or taking part in something out of the ordinary; and Veterans’ Wishes, which can fall into any of the other three categories. Sometimes the wishes are heartbreakingly simple. In May, the Washington chapter granted the wish of a woman who has no family and has lived in care facilities since she was a teenager because she has physical and mental challenges. Her wish was to have lunch at Red Lobster and go shopping for a new outfit. “We brought in one of our volunteers, who happens to be a makeup artist, and we did her makeup and her hair and took her to Red Lobster,” Dixon said. “Then we took her to Kohl’s, and I found the manager of the store and told him who we were and what we were doing, and he told us to take 30 percent off whatever coupons we had. We got her a new wardrobe, shoes, pajamas and a new blanket for her bed. “When we were standing outside afterward, waiting for transportation with all her bags, I asked her when was the last time she got to go shopping. She looked at me and said, ‘1982.’ I almost cried right there on the pavement outside Kohl’s.” Dixon said her chapter grants about one wish per month. One of their biggest struggles, she said, is finding people to grant wishes for. Although there are many deserving seniors, most people don’t know about Twilight Wish. Mindy Andrews, a volunteer with the Allegheny County chapter, said they grant wishes for approximately 20 people per year but would like to do more. “You’re helping people on such a very personal level,” she said, “It can be so simple. One gentleman did volunteer work in prisons, and he wanted a suit that he could wear to go with people to their court hearings. “Then, some are a little more extravagant. The Westmoreland chapter recently flew a nun up in a hot air balloon, and we did a blimp ride for a gentleman as well. Sometimes we get people who want to go to a Steelers or Penguins game. And then we do things that people really need, like a lift chair if their wish is to be able to get in and out of a chair without struggling.” One of the other requirements for fulfilling a wish is that the individual has a history of giving back to others, whether through Twilight Wish Foundation works to grant wishes for deserving seniors BY KAREN PRICE Get Healthy. Get Home. 724-836-2480 mygreensburgcarecenter.com 724-547-1890 myharmonhousecarecenter.com Schedule a tour before surgery. Ask about a Respite stay for Mom or Dad while you recover. adno=6523035
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