Featured Photo: Lanita Haith, resident of Kith Haven nursing home, sings with Jowanne Carrigan of the Flint Courier News.
By Tanya Terry
The owner of Dom’s Diner said he is sure it costed a “pretty penny” but it was worth every dime to see the smiles on the faces of approximately 20 residents of two local nursing homes when he treated them to a free meal recently.
“We were looking for a way to give back to this city. We figured instead of just donating money, let’s do something that’s going to leave a memory. We came up with this idea to give back to older people. Sometimes I’m sure they’re lonely at the nursing home. They can’t hop in the car like we can and go out to eat or where they want to go,” said Dominic Berishaj, the owner of the local restaurant.
Berishaj offered the residents a special menu for the occasion.
“They had a lot of variety,” Berishaj said.
Berishaj’s dad is friends with Mayor Sheldon Neeley.
“He got together with Mr. Neeley to see how they could get transportation here.”
About 20 residents of Kith Haven and Willowbrook Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation nursing homes were able to attend the event.
Berishaj said he is aware many of his customers have relatives at the two nursing homes.
Berishaj also said he had an opportunity to talk to some of the residents.
“They seemed very appreciative. They seemed very surprised that somebody would even do that for them, which makes me feel good. That was the outcome we were looking for.”
Residents at both nursing homes must have clinicals and need 24 hour care.
“I had two of my grandparents in a nursing home, and I kind of know the feeling. They told me they felt very lonely and very much like nobody is with them anymore. So, I know what that’s like. I can only imagine how the residents feel, let alone how I feel just talking to them.”
Berishaj said people have not always been kind to him.
“I try not to look at it that way, though. I believe in giving out as much positive energy as you can. Even if it doesn’t come back to you, it’s OK. God is watching you. That’s all that matters.”
Berishaj said kindness feels good to everyone.
“For Flint, they’ve just been very supportive to us. I think we owe this to Flint, to give something back to them. This is only hopefully the beginning to that.”
The Berishaj family has had eateries in Flint for 20 years, including Dom’s Diner on Corunna Road and Captain Coty’s on Ballenger Highway.
Berishaj said everyone has been very supportive of his idea to offer free meals to the nursing home residents.
“I hope people will read about this and see it, and it will motivate them to do the same thing. It can be a small gesture like holding the door open for someone. It doesn’t have to be something like this-but something nice, something kind, even if it’s one thing. The other person might need it. You never know what somebody is going through. One good deed could change a lot for somebody.”
Linda Weston has been a resident of Kith Haven for a few months this year, and she was there before for short-term care. The recent free meal was her first time going out to eat since she had to go to the nursing home. She said she loved the dinner and found it to be “very filling.” She also enjoyed the singing of Jowanne Carrigan of the Flint Courier News, who sung “We are the World” for the outing. She said although the staff at Kith Haven and her family and friends do make her feel supported, it was nice to do something different. She looks forward to doing it again as soon as possible.
Cynthia Holmes has been at Wilowbrook for two years. She enjoyed the singing, in particular, as a former gospel singer herself who still sings to herself. She also said the food was good. She said the staff at the nursing home and her family and friends show appreciation, but getting the free meal made her feel “very, very appreciated.”
Ursulla Johnson, activity director at Kith Haven said there is no age requirement to live at the nursing homes, and it is about the need. She said a lot of people don’t realize the residents in these facilities often are living off $60 a month for personal money and couldn’t afford to go out to eat. Johnson is thankful to everyone who made the free meal possible.
“We do have dinners and other activities for our residents at the nursing home, but to be able to go out to the actual community and have a meal is truly a blessing,” she said.
