March 28, 2024

Holiday spirit

Doris Welcher provides festive atmosphere for CCH ladies luncheons

Doris Welcher has the ability to create a world of holiday spirit, even on a dining table at Clarke County Hospital (CCH).

Welcher, a dietary cook at CCH, decorates the ladies luncheon table at CCH for its monthly luncheons.

"I've always liked to decorate, so I just enjoy it, and the ladies really enjoy it," Welcher said. "It's always fun to see their smile."

Welcher said Clarke County Hospital has had the ladies luncheon "for quite some time, but nobody ever decorated. They just got special food."

Decorating

About three to four years ago, Welcher came up with the idea to start decorating the dining table to make the event more festive.

When it comes to decorations, Welcher has a lot of stuff from her home that can be used for the event.

For the Dec. 13 luncheon, a dining table was decorated with images of snowmen, a Christmas tree and deep hues of holiday red.

The decorated area depicts images of a holiday party or festive gathering.

"That's what we want them to feel like," said Sherry Shields, CCH activities coordinator, "that it's very special because they are each unique, and we want them to feel that when they come to something like this."

The menu for the December luncheon was broccoli-bacon quiche, dinner rolls, fruit and cookies.

Different themes

Since luncheon is once a month, Welcher decorates the area differently for every month.
Last month, Welcher incorporated scarecrows for a fall theme.

The upcoming January luncheon will have decorations of snowmen skating.

The people who attend the lunch are the hospital's extended-swing patients, also known as nursing home patients.

Shields said a lot of people who attend the luncheons used to have other luncheons or coffee clubs they would attend.

"This kind of helps them remember that," she said. "Makes them feel special because of the extra work and everything that's put into them."

Shields added, the luncheon provides something for people to look forward to.

"Doris does a wonderful job in decorating," she said.