When Ray and his wife Vi decided to move to Harvest Hill in May 2018, they knew it was the right move. After living in North Texas for 30 years, the couple wanted to be closer to family. Their daughter lives near Harvest Hill, making the location ideal. Their son, an airline pilot based in Virginia, often travels so being near their daughter and her family perfectly aligned with their goal of moving closer to family.
For many Harvest Hill residents, the transition to assisted living is prompted by a desire to be closer to family and to make things easier as they age. But for Ray, it turned into something more. As his daughter pointed out, assisted living offers support from other residents during life-changing events. Unfortunately, that moment came all too soon when Vi passed away.
While the grief of losing his wife of 60 years was overwhelming, Ray found solace in the compassion and kindness of his new community. Holly, their daughter, was right and support from the community at Harvest Hill helped during this hard time. Ray was deeply touched by the outreach of others and began to reciprocate kindness and support to other residents facing life-altering challenges.
Another thing Ray truly appreciates at Harvest Hill is its remarkable library collection of over 4,000 books. After Vi’s passing, Ray was invited to join the Library Committee. With no previous library work experience, Ray was an active patron of local libraries, and contributing to something so integral to the community appealed to him.
When he stepped into the librarian role, Ray quickly discovered the library’s potential. The basic “lending library” system lacked a meaningful way to manage its inventory. And then Ray’s daughter and son-in-law offered to help. They donated a computer and printer to set up a more efficient, automated system, turning the lending system into a well-managed and accessible resource for all residents.
While the “Library Project” is a work in progress, Ray and the Library Committee have made significant strides. One challenge is deciding whether to accept donated books or re-donate them elsewhere after careful consideration of whether the book duplicates something in the collection. The team also works closely with local public libraries for support, ensuring that the collection remains diverse and relevant to residents.
In addition to maintaining the library, Ray and fellow Committee members contribute to Hillwinds, an internal bi-monthly publication at Harvest Hill. Hillwinds has a Library Column with book reviews written by Committee members and residents. These reviews help readers discover titles and authors and promote sharing of favorite books, bolstering a connection among residents.
Staffing the Library Committee is an ongoing challenge, especially with the new computer system in place. To address this, Ray, the Committee, and Ray’s family created a “Library Handbook,” basically an operational guide for the library. The purpose is to ensure that, even if a Committee member is absent, there is a documentation protocol to keep things running smoothly.
For Ray, the library is more than just a collection of books, it’s a vital part of the Harvest Hill community. It’s a place where residents come together, share stories and find comfort. Ray’s story is a testament to the strength of community, the power of kindness, and the importance of purpose, especially in difficult times.
Ray’s journey at Harvest Hill proves that while life brings challenges, it also offers opportunities for new meaning, building connections, and contributing to something larger than oneself. And for Ray, this library is an example of how he’s helping to shape the legacy of a community that supported him through one of the hardest times of his life.
“What’s at stake? Intelligent operation of a wonderful Harvest Hill asset, our Library.” – Ray
