Volunteerism and corporate savvy have come togther at the Swope Ridge Geriatric Center. The result? An outdoor garden and recreational facility for the residents of that center unimaginable just a couple years ago. In a project initiated and led by Susan McGreevy, Construction Law Practice Group Leader at Kansas City-based law firm Husch & Eppenberger, more than 20 volunteers from the Husch & Eppenberger firm contributed to the beautification of the Swope Ridge center's grounds as they potted, planted and pruned away at this elderly care facility.
While Husch & Eppenberger's team of volunteer lawyers supplied valuable energy to the Saturday project, they were working in collaboration with a greater collection of service providers who all chose to donate their time and resources to the realization of McGreevy's goal for Swope Ridge, the largest nursing home facility located in an urban Missouri area.
McGreevy began contemplating a plan to improve the grounds of the Swope Ridge center when she realized that although many residents spent considerable time outside, the outdoor accommodations near the facility were less than aesthetic. In facy, many of the residents, wheelchair-bound, could only sit on the sidewalk next to the building in the absence of any other wheelchair-accessible areas adjacent to the Center.
So McGreevy went to work. Committed to an endeavor that would attract as many different kinds of people as possible, McGreevy now says, "We wanted to get the community involved, whether it was providing in-kind services or donations or supplying the labor to get the job done."
To get the ball rolling, she contacted professional gardener Susie Cohen, who consulted on the design and coordination. Together, Cohen and McGreevy rallied the support of several local contractors and service providers, many of whom agreed to donate their products and services to the project. For example, The Water Garden Society installed a fountain on the Center's grounds soon after McGreevy began planning the project, and J.M. Fahey Construction poured asphalt paths for wheelchair accessibility. Also, Malco Construction built several outdoor planting tables for the residents. These tables are also accessible to persons in wheelchairs. Howell Construction, hired initially to work on the garden, also joined in the spirit of sponsorship and donated a portion of their services to the project's completion. Finally, spring weather permitted the project to progress to its gardening phase, and Rosehill Gardens donated all of the plants and flowers that were planted April 29.
Working all day, McGreevy's team of approximately 20 volunteers showed genuine enthusiasm for the progress they were making at the Center. McGreevy said, "It was not just Husch and Eppenberger employees that signed on to help with this project. People brought their husbands and wives and kids, and that was really great."
McGreevy also expressed appreciation for her coworkers' contributions to the Swope Ridge Geriatric Center, noting, "We had such a wonderful response from people around the office. I think people were really happy that they were asked to participate."
While McGreevy applauds her coworkers' efforts, she admits that the project relied heavily on Cohen's leadership and initiative. She acknowledged that while Cohen would probably deny the importance of her role in the project, Cohen did the legwork for a good deal of the contracted work. "Susie really leaned on people and was able to pull everything together really well," said McGreevy.
Swope Ridge Director Patricia Wyatt expressed her appreciation for Husch & Eppenberger's volunteerism, commenting, "This really created a natural environment where our residents can commune with nature."
That was the plan, concedes McGreevy, who is just happy for
the opportunity to witness the culmination of two years of planning
and coordination. Said McGreevy, "I've enjoyed my involvement
in this project, and I hope the residents enjoy the garden."