The Villager – March 06, 2014

Cocktails for a Cause was started with one woman, Rene Harding, and her latest quarterly event filled the Cable Center to the walls with 305 women.  This time Bessie’s Hope was the beneficiary.  A new non-profit is chosen each time and this one connected with everyone, whether they ahve an elderly relative in a nursing home or not.

And speaking of connecting, Bessie’s Hope brings trained volunteers together with patients for a mutually beneficial connection.

When first learning of what began as Rainbow Bridge by co-founder Linda Holloway, many of us were shocked to learn that 50 percent of nursing home residents get no visitors.  Now frail and infirm, many lighten up at the sight of a friendly face and the video Holloway provided detailed just such responses, their eyes aglow.