OUR STORY
The Heart Behind Ray 4 Hope
Ray4Hope is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting nursing home residents throughout Monroe County. Our mission is simple but meaningful: to bring joy, connection, and dignity to seniors who may feel overlooked or alone. Through gift-giving, personal visits, and year-round community engagement, Ray4Hope works to remind every resident that they are valued and remembered.
The inspiration for Ray4Hope began shortly after my grandmother passed away while living at Medilodge of Monroe. During the time my family spent visiting her, I witnessed firsthand how many residents went long stretches without visitors. Even the smallest interactions—a smile, a short conversation, or a moment of attention—made a tremendous difference. That experience stayed with me, and after her passing, my mom, Shellie, and I felt compelled to take action in a way that honored her and supported others facing similar loneliness.
Because my grandma Mary passed away in October 2019, just weeks before Christmas, we knew we wanted to return to Medilodge and make the residents feel special during the holiday season. We explored several ideas before deciding to “adopt” residents for Christmas gifts. At first, we planned to adopt only the dementia unit where my grandma lived, but the idea quickly spread on social media. Within days, the entire nursing home had been adopted.
What started as a simple idea grew into a true community effort. With the help of donors, volunteers, and local partners, Ray4Hope has expanded each year to ensure that hundreds of seniors receive gifts, comfort items, and personal connections during the holidays. Planning for the holiday season each year involves months of coordination—outreach, donation drives, gift wrapping, deliveries, and visits. Typical gifts the residents in nursing homes receives include items such as blankets, coloring books and colored pencils, crosswords or word searches, reading glasses, fuzzy socks, toothbrushes and toothpaste, chapstick, tissues, card games, and more.
At its heart, Ray4Hope is about honoring the people who helped build our community. It serves as a reminder that no one should feel forgotten. Through the continued generosity of our supporters, we are able to spread hope, kindness, and compassion—one resident at a time.
Established in 2019 in honor of Mary Balutis 12/29/52 -10/24/2019
