Local Church Spreads Cheer

The Mary Helen Women’s Circle of the Blair Road Methodist Church helped to make the season bright for those who go to Blessed Assurance on Tuesdays. They came bearing gifts and the holiday spirit for all.

Blessed Assurance is a day care facility for those who need extra assistance during the day when their main caretakers are at work or otherwise need a break.  Blessed Assurance gives the day care clients an opportunity to socialize with others with similar conditions, to participate in educational programs, and to be cared for by trained staff.

While Carol Robinson played Christmas carols on the piano, and those that could quietly sang, another woman wound the basket of number and letter combinations for several games of bingo. Soon after and with great fanfare, Mrs. Clause came bustling in and announced that Santa was coming. She went from table to table bearing the good news, and looked every bit Santa’s better half. She left the building to retrieve Santa, and shortly thereafter came back with the Christmas icon in tow. Although some attendees are not verbal, those that could sat next to Santa to tell him their Christmas wishes.

Nate Huggins and his wife Vivian founded Blessed Assurance twenty years ago in a small storefront, and will be honoring this milestone in February at the Emerald Lake Golf Club.   They have since catered to the needs of the disabled in five counties. They act as an oasis for those with dementia, Parkinson’s, down syndrome, and other conditions that would make if difficult or dangerous to be on their own and unaided.

Co-founder Nate Huggins, who also has the title of CEO said, “The women of the Mary Helen Circle want to assure that everyone who attends gets a gift. The people who come here for care may not get any gifts otherwise. These kind women want to fill the possible void.” He went on to say that, “While many people here cannot get out into the community, we are bringing the community to them.”