By Kimberly Gasuras
By all accounts, the residents of Altercare were like family to nurse Michele Johns. The Positive Seekers are working to ensure that her memory and giving spirit is kept alive at the local senior living community and presented a check for $500 on Tuesday to the administrator of the facility.
“We wanted to do something for the residents in Michele’s honor. She loved each one of these residents and was a huge supporter of the Positive Seekers. We miss her very much,” said Carolyn Shireman, the founder of The Positive Seekers.
Michele died unexpectedly in October.
The money will be used for residents to have their hair styled for Christmas.
“We have several residents that cannot pay to have their hair done. This money will open the fund that will be ongoing, and we appreciate it very much,” said Nick Scheck, administrator of Altercare of Bucyrus.
Michele’s family came to Altercare for the check passing.
“I grew up here. This place was a huge part of my mom’s life and of our lives. She would be very happy about this,” said Eric Johns, one of Michele’s four sons.
Michele worked at the facility as a licensed practical nurse (LPN) like her mother.
“I am a nurse, Michele was a nurse, my other daughter is a nurse. I worked here when Altercare first opened at Oakwood Manor,” said Michele’s mom, Brenda Riley. “Michele absolutely loved her job.”
Joe Graham of the Positive Seekers said that Michele was all about her own hair.
“She loved her hair. She used to say, ‘the bigger the hair, the closer to God,’” said Graham.
Winnie Aurand, a receptionist at Altercare who assisted The Positive Seekers with the details of setting up the fund for residents, said the residents and staff at Altercare loved Michele.
“She loved her family. She put the Lord first, her family second, and her job third. We were all part of her family,” said Aurand.
Michele’s husband, Charles “Ed” Johns, said his wife loved Altercare and everyone that lives and works there.
“Michele loved people and loved making people feel good about themselves. She would love that this is happening for the residents at Christmastime,” said Ed.
The Positive Seekers collected the money through donations and sponsors as part of their Pay It Forward program.
“We are still in need of money for gift cards that we will be handing out randomly throughout the community,” said Shireman.
Checks or money orders can be sent to The Positive Seekers, 1065 E. Beal Ave., Bucyrus, OH 44280. The Positive Seekers is a non-profit 501-C organization that was founded a few years ago to bring positive events and programs to Bucyrus. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/THEPOSITIVESEEKERS.