adminLast week around two-hundred guests, staff, local officials and most importantly current and future residents celebrated a new beginning, as the brand-new 3,500 square foot Mount Joy Country Homes community center opened its doors for the first time. On September 26, Messiah Lifeways held a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house to celebrate this long-awaited addition to the 55+ campus in Mount Joy. This community center will serve as the heart and epicenter for Mount Joy Country Homes residents, their families and the community in general. It, along with twelve new cottages being constructed on Sage Court, represents the growth and cultivation of the burgeoning Messiah Lifeways community some 30 miles away from the main campus of Messiah Village.
The new community center provides its residents a gathering place to socialize, partake in fellowship, and solidify the sense of belonging and community on a bigger scale. It replaced a small, outdated, underequipped makeshift community room that was part of a converted cottage. It was charming at best, but really was outgrown by the volume and needs of the residents at Mount Joy. It has been quite a needed change from the humble little community room/center to this now spacious and multifunctional center that was celebrated last week.
During the open house, guests were able to walk through and take it all in. Built by Wagman Construction, the building is a combination of great style, function and accessibility. Unlike the old community room, which could only hold a sardine-like group of 25 or so, the new center showcases the Mellinger room offering seating for up to 124 guests plus a kitchen and full-size regulation shuffleboard court. Residents and their guests can relax in the lounge area, peruse the library or watch movies or sporting events on the large-screen TV above the gas fireplace. There is also a hobby room, covered porch, and a well-equipped fitness center with cardio and strength training machines. Also located in the building is a rehabilitation suite, which will allow residents to receive prescribed outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy. Messiah Lifeways Rehab, which also provides the inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services at Messiah Village, will staff the rehab suite based on the need and demand of the residents. Lastly, an office in the community center is where fellow resident/maintenance man extraordinaire George Melacon and others will be stationed on a part-time basis to handle all the little fixes around campus.
On my dozen visits to Mount Joy Country Homes, it has been amazing to see its gradual transformation from our “other community in Mount Joy” to now an extension of Messiah Lifeways at Messiah Village. Though separated by 30 miles and a whole other county, this community center opens up the possibilities and looks to meet the needs of the residents by phasing in services like Messiah Lifeways Rehab, Messiah Lifeways At Home and Messiah Lifeways Coaching. It has been part of a wonderful journey that continues as Mount Joy Country Homes grows and cultivates a stronger and more dynamic community.
Finally, if you’d like to visit the campus and the new community center, I encourage you to attend the Messiah Lifeways at Mount Joy Country Homes Autumn Sampler on Tuesday, October 29 starting at 2 pm.
* Hear from a panel of residents about life at Messiah Lifeways at Mount Joy Country Homes
* Enjoy delicious autumn refreshments in the new Community Center
* Tour the beautiful campus and fully furnished model cottage
* Chat with residents
RSVP by calling 717.653.2356 by October 22.
