2021 LeadingAge KY Volunteer Award Winner – ScatterJOY Ministries

Jesus said that “whatsoever you do to the least of your brothers and sisters, you do unto me.” He called on us to minister to the vulnerable – the socially, psychologically or economically disadvantaged, such as the sick, the poor, the mentally and physically disabled.

Barbara and Wally Rendell, longtime volunteers and supporters of Sayre, have been examples of God’s love through their ScatterJOY ministry. Wally was the first chairmen of the board at Sayre Christian Village and since that day, he and his wife have been searching for ways to care for the residents and staff here.

Volunteer of the Year Award

This award is presented to a resident or non-resident, group, or individual, volunteer of a LeadingAge Kentucky member facility that has performed significant volunteer service to clients/residents, and has demonstrated unusual commitment to preserve the dignity and well-being of the residents and the community. The winner must have served the organization for a significant period of time directly or indirectly and made a difference in the life of the organization or an individual that is significant.

Over the past year, they have lifted Sayre Christian Village through gifts of time, encouragement, and small and large donations. Each unsolicited gift has come at a time that our ‘little little village that could’ truly needed it.

“Wally & Barbara love the Lord with all their heart and are outstanding ambassadors for Christ and His kingdom,” said John Dundon, CFO. “Abraham was blessed by God and in turn, blessed others. God has also blessed them with the power of effective ministry, and in turn they bless others.”

In Service to Others

In the past year, they set about immediately finding ways to help when COVID visitor restrictions guidance came out and donated some of our first N95 masks. They donated meals for campus staff to encourage them on several occasions and dropped off baskets of treats on COVID testing days.

ScatterJoy delivered Easter crosses to be passed to staff and Easter cards to residents. During the Christmas holidays, they donated cards, small gifts, and ornaments for resident stockings and 35 larger gifts for an employee raffle. They helped cut fabric to make Christmas Wreaths for resident doors and the Christmas Craft Fair and to make Christmas sensory crafts.

Leading into the holidays, they held a raffle for team members that didn’t miss a single shift during our COVID outbreak in November with FREE RENT! The winner of the raffle, Crystal Shepard, was moved to tears and was so blessed by such a timely gift of love, encouragement and funds.

They have donated items to our Cooking Club so that residents could engage in socially distant cooking activities. ScatterJOY have procured adult diapers, communion supplies, handmade face masks, Valentine gifts, and a medical bed for housing residents.

Through their “Bridges Day”, they are making prom corsages and boutonnieres for our first Senior Prom in our assisted living community. They show support to our leadership team by being on hand at Ministry Appreciation Breakfast and our Ribbon Cutting for our new expansion.

Mission Driven

If you were to ask Wally & Barbara how they get the energy to constantly engaging their volunteers to help Sayre Christian Village and others, they would likely say it’s all worth it if they can just, “Reach one more for Jesus, just one more for Jesus.”

If you would like to learn more about ScatterJOY Ministries, Barbara Rendel would love to talk to you about ways to help in the surrounding community.

Sayre Christian Village is also accepting volunteers! Angela Mullins, our Director of Campus Life Enrichment has many opportunities to volunteer, both remotely or in person. You need no special skills to volunteer, only a love for older adults and a heart to serve.