Christian Care Communities has been meeting the needs of Kentucky’s seniors for over 140 years. Starting as the Widows and Orphans Home of Kentucky in 1884, the mission was founded by the Christian Churches throughout the state. Now with 10 locations statewide, the Corbin campus was started 47 years ago and has served generations of families in Eastern Kentucky.
In celebration of these historic milestones, staff, families, and residents at Christian Care Corbin gathered in the recently renovated lobby of the Christian Health Center. The upgraded ‘welcome center’ includes new furniture, artwork, a fireplace, television, bookcase, and more features for residents, families, staff, and visitors to enjoy. Funds for these improvements were provided by a generous grant from the E.O. Robinson Mountain.
Susie Razmus, Mayor of Corbin, shared words of welcome and gratitude for the many years the nonprofit has been serving the families of Eastern Kentucky. Mayor Razmus said, “I’ve had many family members and friends call Christian Care their home over the years and I’m so happy to share this special ribbon cutting and 140th Anniversary celebration. This facility is so important to our community and brings wonderful care and jobs to our area.”
One of the highlights at the celebration was the reenactment of Christian Care’s founders, Rev. William and Mildred Broadhurst, who pastored the Floyd and Chestnut Street Christian Church in Louisville in the late 1880’s. Christian Care residents, Ray and June Watts, dressed in period costumes, shared comments as the founding couple and also provided personal statements of gratitude for the mission and how wonderful it is to have such high quality services at Christian Care to support seniors in Corbin.
Jim Patton, Vice President and General Counsel for Christian Care, commented the renovations were made possible by a generous grant from the E.O. Robinson Mountain Fund. E.O. Robinson made his fortune from the timber production of Appalachian Ky during 1901-22. He established his “Mountain Fund” in the 1920’s to promote education, health care, and community programs in Eastern Kentucky. When asked how he wanted his generous resources to be spent, Robinson simply replied, “Be a good neighbor.”
Patton commented, “Christian Care Communities is proud to have served the Corbin community for nearly 50 years. We are grateful to the Mountain Fund for being a good neighbor and carrying out the wishes of their founder. The new welcome center serves as the “front door” to our mission of care for seniors and families of Southeast Kentucky. It is here that countless seniors and families begin their journey of receiving the support and resources they need. The center is a wonderful hub of activity with our receptionist sitting at the front desk providing information to visitors, acceptance of flowers and gifts for residents, and most important, this area is that “friendly face connector” for all things related to our Faith-Care-Family approach to compassionate care.”