Dressed as a monkey, one-month-old Ryker Belcher, won the distinction of being the youngest trick-or-treater to attend the annual Halloween event held at Pleasant View Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, 500 N. Jackson Street, Morrison, IL, on Saturday, October 28, 2017. His parents are Ryan Belcher and Monica Fernandez.
Staff estimated between 75 and 100 other children visited the care facility. Event times were planned from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., after the Chamber of Commerce/Cottonwood 4-H Club Parade and Costume Contest on Main Street. Many children came during the parade times. There were hot dogs, apple cider, trick-or-treating with the residents, and hay wagon rides.
“Thirty big bags of candy” were distributed by the residents. The fun wrapped up close to 3:30, “because the residents were getting tired.”
“Three-fourths of the residents and about ten staff dressed up” for the festivities. Interpreting The Wizard of Oz theme are, left-to-right, “Scarecrow” Karleen Crawford, Dietary; “Tin Man” Michael Jones, Social Services; “Dorothy” Abby Miller, Activities Director; “Lion” Deanna Mitchell, MDS Coordinator; “Good Witch” Dani Wilcox, Business Office Manager; “Wicked Witch” Stacey Southern, Housekeeping Supervisor.
These smiling children, left-to-right, were ready for their ride: Cadence Whitaker, 4, of Dixon, IL; Kylie Rus, 7, Matt Wilcox, 7, Camren Corbin, 9, and Aries Cross, 10, all of Morrison.
For the bravest, there was a themed hallway to venture down or peer at from the safety of the lobby. It was much darker than flash photography indicates. Streamers and cobwebs hung along the passage–which is under remodeling.
Swirling ghosts glided across the far wall on a projection loop.
Tuesday, November 21, is the Thanksgiving luncheon for residents and their family members. On Friday, December 15, family members and the community at large are invited to a dinner and basket auction. Guests purchase a packet of Monopoly money to bid on various gifts. Monies raised will be used for facility enrichment.
Details will be released in the future for this important fundraising event, but donors are encouraged to create and donate a basket now for the auction. Need a suggestion? Contact Amy Wiltshire at 815-213-1042.
She suggested the following themes that have been popular:
- Baby Girl/Baby Boy
- Cat/Dog Items
- Movie Night
- Wine Night
- All Things Chocolate
- Dinner at Olive Garden.