Friends of GA

Join the Friends of Guardian Angels Care Center

Friends of Guardian Angels Care Center was formed to provide services that enhance the quality of life of our residents. We welcome new members as we work toward providing quality and joy to our residents’ daily lives. The Friends of GA group meets every other month at the Care Center and is a member of the Minnesota Association of Healthcare Volunteers (MAHV).

Friends of Guardian Angels Care Center sponsors several fundraisers each year, including the Scrapbooking & Craft Event, Easter Basket Silent Auction, fudge sales in the community, and sales of Wayzata Bay Spices sold in our Gift Shop. All proceeds are used to directly enhance the leisure lives of our residents. These funds have been used for a state-of-the-art tub room in the 300-wing, iPads, large print books, videos, Christmas gifts for the residents, gifts for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, and a complete renovation to our Reflection Room.

We hope that you will consider joining us as we strive to enhance the quality of life for those we love at Guardian Angels Care Center. For more information, contact Lynn Owens, Friends of Guardian Angels Care Center Facilitator, at 763-241-4460 or lowens@ga-er.org.

Reflection Room Renovation

Several years ago, two families made generous donations to enhance the Reflection Room at Guardian Angels Care Center. The Reflection Room is a quiet place for meditation and prayer for all residents, their families, and staff. All are welcome to visit any hour of the day.

George and Joan Zabee donated a stunning stained-glass window in memory of Joseph and Frances Zabee and Thomas Zabee. The Wilson family donated a beautiful altar in memory of Roland and Edith Wilson. The stained-glass window adds such beauty to the room, and the altar is now used in our chapel for all worship services. Guardian Angels is grateful to the Zabee and Wilson families for their heartfelt donations.

Reverie Harp

Friends of Guardian Angels Care Center purchased two Reverie Harps for therapeutic use by the Recreation staff. The harps are used during resident visits and have had a positive impact on residents’ lives.

According to the designer:

"The Reverie Harp is designed as a therapy tool for non-musicians. It is designed specifically so that a person does not need to engage the mind to enjoy pleasant sounds. So the word “play” does mean “perform” on this harp. You “play with” this harp. You can close your eyes and play with it – we call it noodling around on the strings so that any resident can enjoy playing with it. The harp is designed for relaxation, simple fun, soothing harmonies, tactile stimulation, resonant vibrations, and satisfaction of instant pleasure and success. It is also useful as a tool to stimulate conversation and interaction, and staff and residents can make musical harmonies together. Because the music becomes whatever they wish it to be, residents seem to lose their apprehension about playing and enjoy the experience."