Masonic Village Harvest Ball Gathers Residents and Community

Because community members decided to step out and join forces with Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill, 90 residents from the personal care and nursing services neighborhoods (units) experienced a night they'll never forget.

During the fifth Annual Harvest Ball on Thursday, Nov. 17, volunteers pampered residents all afternoon, helped them dress in formal attire and escorted them to the Kenneth R. Mills Auditorium, which was transformed into a grand ballroom. There, the residents dined on fine food and danced the night away to live music.

Preparation for the Harvest Ball started at 10 a.m. Thursday, when a crew of volunteers from Epic Church, Philadelphia, arrived with donated decorations to adorn the auditorium and started blowing up balloons.

Students from Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School and the Blue Crew from BlueCross BlueShield arrived with a second shift of volunteers from Epic Church in the early afternoon. With the help of Mary Kay consultant Viola Martin, who provided her services for free, the volunteers did hair, nails and makeup for the female residents.

The coat room was transformed into a gown room for female residents to browse through and select their attire for the night. The evening wear has been donated throughout the past several years by the Order of the Eastern Star and retirement living residents at the Masonic Village. The honored guests at the ball may borrow any dress they wish for the evening, and volunteers even help them accessorize.

At 5 p.m., volunteers, including a third shift from Epic Church, escorted residents to the Harvest Ball, where each person received a corsage or boutonniere and had his or her picture taken as a keepsake of the night. A videographer from Epic Church will also give Masonic Village one more reason to remember the event when they provide a video of the festivities.

The guests of honor dined in a room decorated for kings and queens. During dinner, Miguel Cintron played "oldies" while residents reminisced with each other, volunteers and staff. Cintron picked up the pace after dinner with dancing music. Even residents who could not easily stand danced from their seats or with the assistance of a new friend.

"This type of event is important to residents' quality of life. They look forward to it - to getting dressed up, mingling, dancing and getting out. They talk about it for months afterward," Sharitta Cudjoe, recreation coordinator, said.

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