Every girl sometimes needs to feel uniquely feminine and special and the young ladies in the Residential program at Intermountain are no exception.
That’s why, each year, Intermountain holds a Valentine’s Tea for the girls in the Residential program. The tea is always held on or near Valentine’s Day and this year it was held on February 13 at Intermountain’s Community Service Center. The girls enjoyed dressing up, got their hair done, enjoyed special attention and treats, heard an inspirational speaker and enjoy a very girlie party.
Yummy food adorned each table!
The children are joined by female members of the Intermountain staff, and this year the female teachers and teacher’s assistants at Intermountain School were invited. Chaplain Chris, Anne Wilmoth and other staff serve the tea on a collection of china and teapots that range from elegant to whimsical. Scones, delicacies and sweets are provided by ladies of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and Lisa Sommers from Intermountain’s Occupational Therapy Department. A special “Action Team” grant from Thrivent provides additional support.
Loy Chvilicek presented a lesson on tea etiquette and manners before the guest speaker, former Intermountain Jewish Educator, Janet Tatz, offered her inspirational address. Janet’s message featured a number of stories that illustrated the point that the spark of the divine is in each of us, and that spark is not put out or made less unique because of our hardships. On the contrary, Janet shared, “it is through these areas of weakness that God waters the earth with his grace and goodness.”
Each girl got a special gift and a personalized Valentine
Each girl received a special Valentine and a personalized gift from Chaplain Chris Haughee, and then had a chance to pose for frivolous photos in our own Hearts and Flowers Photo Booth designed by Glenna Obie. The youth group, SPARK, led by volunteer Donagene LaFromboise, came at the end of the Tea and helped by cleaning up and providing goodie bags and flowers for all the children.
As you can see, it was a wonderful event that many people had a hand in. Most importantly, the girls and staff enjoyed themselves and left with a positive memory they can hold on to for a long time.
members of the youth group “SPARK” pose for a picture before helping clean up. They also brought flowers and Valentine’s goodies for all of the children!
Chaplain Chris presents Janet and Jean, volunteers from St. Peter’s Episcopal, with a gift to show our appreciation.
Chaplain Chris, Loy C. and Janet Tatz pose for a photo before the Tea.
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