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For those that live in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, there aren’t always many chances to get out and about. However, the residents of Memorial Hospital and Manor’s affiliate facility, Willow Ridge Personal Care Home, were treated to a day out last week, with resident Ed Mitchell catering a lunch for them at his family farm.

“When I first came here,” Mitchell recalled, “the home told me that they were going down to somewhere on the coast for lunch that day.” Willow Ridge did previously take some of the residents on a day trip to Mexico Beach in 2021.

According to Mitchell, roughly 35 people, including staff from Willow Ridge, attended the lunch, which was provided by Catering by JLo. “They all enjoyed it, and I was pleased with how much they looked like they enjoyed just getting out in the sunshine,” he said. “Of course, they didn’t get to stay all that long, but they got there in time to have lunch, and they got to walk around a little outside.” Mitchell stated he even built a ramp for his covered deck to help disabled residents, and hopes to hold another lunch in the future. “I plan to do it again, but about next year, sometime.”

Mitchell concluded with positive words about the care facility, saying, “Willow Ridge is a good place to be if you need a home.”