I want to support a community like this so people can continue coming here and experiencing the love of Christ through the care they receive. I give because people need a place like this.
Linda Worman’s grandparents lived at Messiah Village beginning in the ’70s, followed by her parents who moved in during the early ’90s. Her father, Robert (Bob), and her mother, Winifred (Winnie), called a cottage on campus “home” for many years before Bob experienced a memory decline and received care in Asper, the campus’ newest memory care neighborhood. Winnie, now 96 years old, recently transitioned from their cottage into a personal care apartment to receive extra support.
Seeing her family well cared for over the years, Linda long desired to be part of this community and continuum of care when the time came. A public health nurse in Alaska for 10 years, she moved back to Central PA in 2017 to better support her parents and visit them more frequently at Messiah Village. Around that time, Linda was nearing the qualifying age of 62, and she said she didn’t delay getting her application in when that key birthday came around.
“For me, it is a blessing to age in place and age with grace,” said Linda, who was grateful to join the Messiah Lifeways community in 2022. “You have the comfort and security in knowing that the people around you care and will care for you in whatever way you may need as the years go on.”
Linda feels called to share the Messiah Lifeways experience with others, which she does through giving to the Endowment and Benevolent Care funds and various other growth initiatives.
Winnie, Bob, Linda, and her brother Scott, collectively contributed to naming the 2018 construction of our Enrichment Center after Winnie’s father: John N. Hostetter, the organization’s first fundraiser. Linda also financially contributed to the creation of the Asper neighborhood—a project that had personal interest at the time due to her dad’s dementia diagnosis.
“When we collectively give, it makes a big difference,” she said. “It’s not so much about the amount but more that we as donors believe in something and invest our hearts and dollars into it together.”