By Jacqueline Chandler/Messenger Correspondent
Saturday, Oct. 11, started out as a rainy day, but the sun came out just in time for the Attalla Nursing Home’s annual Fall Festival.
The proceeds from the festival fund activities for residents at the facility. Arts and crafts projects, community outings such as movies, eating out and fishing trips, are a few of the events funded by the festival and other fundraising programs throughout the year.
Attalla Nursing Home activity director Tammy Walden hopes to get a budget for activities soon, but much of these expenses are covered via fundraising, making this event important to the residents.
Walden started the fall festival nine years ago and raised $900. Since then, the event has grown to raise over $2,000 for activities.
“Honestly we started this as a fundraiser but we also wanted to get the community involved with the nursing home,” said Walden.
“Everybody thinks nursing homes are all bad, and that’s not true. This helps the community get to know our residents, tour the facility and see that nursing homes are not all bad.”
Entertainment at the festival included Wills Valley Bluegrass Band, a group that has helped out since the beginning of the event.
Also performing were Eric Shavers and Fresh Start gospel group. Local Christian rapper Chris Daniel surprised the residents with his musical talent, which they bragged on later in the evening, according to Walden.
The rain briefly delayed the festival and limited vendors, but Walden said that the facility raised as much money as last year and possibly could have raised more.
“It’s a good thing for the community and the residents because people come together for the good of other people,” said Walden.
“This money does a lot of good things for the residents that they wouldn’t get without it.”