Dexter resident Luanne Free, with the help of friends and loved ones, has spread love and Christmas cheer to local nursing homes and residential facilities every year since 2009.
This year, they served 16 nursing homes and over 800 residents.
Free’s labor of love all began when she and a friend went to visit someone at the Crowley Ridge Care Center.
“My friend Dale Belcher and I had gone to visit a friend at Crowley Ridge in 2009 and the other residents were so excited, thinking we were visiting them. It made us think we should go back and take them something too,” said Free, “so we started with three places that year.”
Sadly Free lost her friend in 2013 and said after his passing, she struggled to continue the tradition.
“That year, I didn’t go and I felt horrible. I haven’t missed a year since, even during COVID,” said Free. “I made two bags and I went to each nursing home and I dropped off banana boxes full of bags with everything in it and let them deliver it out to residents.”
She went on to express how her mission is rewarding not only to those she serves, but it also brings her great joy. Free spoke fondly of one gentleman they served, who was a veteran.
“We gave him a teddy bear that year. I walked to another man in the room and gave him his gift and as I came back by, the vet he had tears running down his cheeks,” said Free. “He said, ‘I have a brand new great grand baby I would like to give this to’ — I cried with him.”
Free said many of the residents make sure to save their stuffed animals to show their appreciation when they return.
“When I go back, they have them and they tell me they appreciate it so much,” she said.
This year, she remembered she had a special lady.
“She was reading her Bible when I walked in,” said Free. “I told her how happy her reading made me and she said, ‘Can I pray for you?’ I said of course and she prayed for me so sweetly.”
Serving so many can be costly, Free said, so she accepts donations from others like herself who seek to make a difference in the lives of others.
“It does cost a lot ,so I try to get donations of new small stuffed animals, bags of chocolate, Hershey plain kisses and boxes of Christmas cards,” said Free.
Anyone wishing to assist in her efforts or donate to the cause can do so by reaching out to Free at Lulu’s Flea Market, which is located on West Stoddard in Dexter.
Free said in closing, “The feeling of seeing them smile, laugh and yes, some cry, makes me feel this is what I am supposed to do.”