Resthaven Care Community

The Warm Friend Takes First Place!

The community-wide theme was "Board Games." The residents of Resthaven's Warm Friend selected "The Game of Life" and seven residents remained perfectly still for 1^1/2 hours, posing as characters represented on the game. The results: The Warm Friend won First Place in the annual Downtown Holland's Live Mannequin Night!

Sponsored by the City of Holland, this year's event featured 40 different displays in downtown windows and storefronts, depicting popular board games in imaginative ways. In the pouring rain, huge crowds of community members of all ages viewed the displays and voted for their favorite, with the winners announced on the following Monday.

"Our residents took such ownership in making the event successful," says Susan DeJong, Warm Friend administrator. "The average age of the group was 86.7 years! It was quickly pointed out that the average was pulled down by the bride and groom, age 76 and 80 respectively."

Mannequins ranged from a baby (Caroline Schierbeek, age 93) to a big cash winner (Barbara Dee Timmer, age 90). "It was so much fun," states Mrs. Timmer. "Our display demonstrated to the whole community how much The Warm Friend is a part of Holland's downtown, and its residents want to participate in downtown activities and events."