COEUR d'ALENE — Wearing a festive Mickey Mouse Santa hat, Brenda Jorgensen smiled as she watched the Lake City Tappers perform at Silver Ridge Care.

Her smile grew even bigger when Santa Claus — played by Navy veteran and jolly old soul Dave Sheldon — stopped by to say hi and deliver a gift bag lovingly filled with little presents from the Silver Angels for the Elderly.

"I like them," Jorgensen quietly said, still grinning.

Silver Ridge resident Char Tyler sat in the back of the room, enjoying the Tappers and the friendly interactions between the Angels volunteers and other residents. Tyler was a certified nursing assistant when she was in high school, so she understands the joy that comes from working with people and appreciates the Silver Angels for what they do.

"They do a good job," she said. "People need more things like this. It seems the elderly always get forgotten."

Silver Angels for the Elderly began in 2015 when the plight of isolated seniors became personal for founder Diane Zell. Her mom was in an assisted living facility the last year of her life. Zell and her dog visited every day, but her mom, who suffered from dementia, longed to go home. She recognized many other residents were also sad, missing their homes and families.

"When my mom passed, I still remembered those lonely folks and wanted to do something to make their lives better," Zell shared on the Silver Angels website. "Visiting people in a rehab once a week brought smiles to their faces. 'Someone cares about me,' they seemed to say. Listening to their stories of a life left behind brought back feelings of worth as I took an interest in their lives."

For years, the volunteers went to local assisted living facilities to throw birthday parties, share Christmas joy and remember those who may not otherwise have family or friends to visit them.

Friday's morning visit to Ivy Court and afternoon at Silver Ridge were the last events for the Silver Angels. The group of dedicated volunteers will continue in a social capacity, but the nonprofit will be no more.

Vickie Davison-Best has volunteered with the Angels in a limited capacity, usually in the background.

"However, I have to say the volunteers want nothing more than to bring some cheer to residents of assisted living facilities," she said. "The volunteers want the residents to know they are not forgotten; they are valued and respected."

Silver Angel Jeanne MacConnell said the joy and laughter they share with residents is a blessing to each one of them. She said one resident at Ivy Court touched her heart one visit.

"The musician we brought on that day touched her heart and in her wheelchair she began to 'dance,' waving her arms and moving her body in time to the music," MacConnell said. "I am a dancer, so I grabbed her hands and began dancing with her, clowning around like she was spinning me around, and suddenly I let go of her hands like she had flung me away. She laughed in delight, as did I knowing that joy could come in the midst of pain and loneliness."

Zell said God made people to have loving relationships — who doesn’t love seeing a smile, being listened to, getting a hug or receiving a gift?

"Seeing the joy this brings to another warms your heart," she shared in a letter to The Press.

"Imagine you are all alone," she wrote. "You can’t go out to enjoy the company of others. You may have medical issues that confine you to a bed, or lost track of distant relatives and friends or have nowhere to go due to financial difficulties. You can only hope that someone will come to visit. That’s why Silver Angels for the Elderly was founded. To kindle a spark of love where sometimes hope has died."

Zell said she experienced that sense of emptiness when her husband, Walt, died earlier this year. He was always at her side, participating in Silver Angels events and sharing his love and kindness with others.

"My husband was a wonderful Angel," Zell said. "So many enjoyed his big smile and attentive ways. When he went to be with the Lord this year, I got to realize the loneliness that residents feel. Losing a loved one leaves an aching hole in one’s heart."

Shortly after his passing, key leadership positions at Silver Angels for the Elderly could not be filled, so the decision was made to dissolve the nonprofit — but not its mission. With the removal of the administrative part of managing a nonprofit, it frees Zell to concentrate on the core mission of serving the residents.

"The comfort I’ve found in knowing the Lord Jesus I hope to pass on to others," she said. "Many Angels feel the same and we will continue as 'Silver Angels' a social group. Our hope is to bring the residents joy through fellowship and by remembering them on their birthdays with a visit and a gift."

Zell said she feels truly blessed to have worked alongside such devoted volunteers.

"They are caring and loving people whose only wish is to help residents know that they are cherished and not forgotten," she said.

    Silver Angels for the Elderly volunteer Linda McKitterick helps deliver gifts to Silver Ridge Care residents Friday.
  

    The Lake City Tappers dance to the "Christmas Can-Can" Friday afternoon at Silver Ridge Care in Coeur d'Alene during a visit from Santa and the Silver Angels for the Elderly. From left: Stephanie Koennel (green skirt), Mina McAnulty and Tudy Gilbert.