Amazing MaryGrace Rahn

Story by Cindy Reid  |  Photography by Leidy Lester

The definition of grace is to “do honor or credit to someone or something by one's presence.”

There is a very special young lady, MaryGrace Rahn, who fits that description perfectly. She knows what it’s like to struggle mightily due to health conditions, and she also knows what it’s like to rise above and ‘do honor and credit’ by her presence. This is not the story of a medical condition—this is the story of a bright young woman who gives of her time and heart to those who desperately need it. Just ask the staff and residents at Lakeview Manor Retirement Home in Springfield, where MaryGrace volunteers twice a week as the Assistant to the Activities Director.

Project Search

Project SEARCH is an Effingham County School District program that works with young adults with disabilities to make the transition to employment. After graduation, MaryGrace worked with them in order to find something that suited her talents and abilities. At first, she volunteered at Ebenezer Middle School, but her mother Nicole Rahn says, “MaryGrace’s dream was to be at a nursing home, where she wanted to polish the residents’ nails and open their Cokes. When she was called and asked to volunteer at Lakeview Manor she accepted immediately!”

Retirement homes can be lonely, and old age can be isolating. Enter MaryGrace. Every Tuesday and Wednesday, MaryGrace can be found, in uniform, at Lakeview Manor where she works directly with the staff and residents.

When asked if the position was difficult at first, she said, “It was pretty good, not hard.” She also says, “Work is better than school!”

It’s a busy day at Lakeview Manor and MaryGrace is right in the midst of it. “I like talking to the residents,” she says. They sure like talking to her, a good listener who remembers their names and likes and dislikes. She often helps lead gentle physical activities.

“I like doing exercise, and stretching,” she says, “and bingo and crafts.”

By knocking on their doors and giving a friendly hello, MaryGrace encourages residents to come out of their rooms, especially when there is a special event like a visiting musician or church service, which she also helps out with.

Games are a regular occurrence and great group activity. MaryGrace is entrusted with setting up and says sometimes, “there is a lot to it,” in order to have an activity ready to play. Bingo is a favorite; the residents also play corn hole and ladder toss. One game the residents really like is called butter beans.

“The highest number wins the prize,” MaryGrace says, “It can be earrings, a necklace, toothpaste, all kinds of good prizes.”

One of her tasks is to keep the prize closet in good order, which she enjoys doing, and setting up the prize table for all the games. The smiles on the residents' faces show how much they appreciate the care MaryGrace takes in these jobs and in their happiness.

Hugs & Cookies

Mealtimes are an important time of the day, and MaryGrace makes sure everyone gets to the dining hall for lunch which she eats together with the residents. Recently the menu was a crowd favorite—fried chicken sandwich, corn on the cob and french fries. And there are plenty of special occasion treats, for holidays and just because. Often MaryGrace walks through the halls offering cookies and hugs, both of which bring sunshine to anyone’s day. MaryGrace says, “We have a birthday party once a month, with cake and candles. We sing ‘Happy Birthday’ and they love it!”

Although  MaryGrace enjoys working with everyone, some of her favorite staff members works in the kitchen. Her mother says, “she brings home stories from the cooks every day.”

Lakeview Manor has a kitchen garden where they actually grow vegetables that are incorporated into the menus. Being in the garden, helping pick vegetables, is something MaryGrace particularly enjoys. “I like tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, squash, zucchini,” she says, “I like being outside.”

Field trips are a fun and regular occurrence. MaryGrace accompanies the residents on field trips and helps out.

“Sometimes we go to Walmart,” she says, “so people can get bathroom supplies and other stuff.” Recently they had a field trip to a local restaurant to enjoy a meal out. Once when they went to Miss Jean’s Buffet in Rincon, they took a side trip. Nicole laughs, “We were building a new house and MaryGrace brought everybody over to see the house.” MaryGrace says, "I showed them my new bedroom!” When asked if she wants to stay a long time at Lakeview Manor MaryGrace smiles and says, “Yes I think so.”

Home & Family

MaryGrace lives at home with dad Jason, mom Nicole and her three sisters; McKenzie, a Physician's Assistant (PA-C) at Effingham Health System Family Practice; Michaela, a pediatric nurse at Memorial Health Dwaine & Cynthia Willett Children's Hospital of Savannah; and Miley, a senior at Effingham Central High School. As a family, the Rahns enjoy simple outdoor times together, like going to football games, taking walks, and fishing.

And family includes Emily Leggett, who was MaryGrace’s one-on-one special education paraprofessional while she was in public school. After retiring from the school district, she was able to work directly with the Rahn family.

“A huge thanks to Emily for making sure MaryGrace is there and supporting her every day in anything she wants to do,” says Nicole. “She takes MaryGrace back and forth to Lakeview and they have a full slate of activities. Emily is family to us.”

As for volunteering at Lakeview Manor, Nicole says “I knew this was the perfect fit. In any situation MaryGrace always finds the oldest person or a child to talk to and they always click.”

An avid cell phone user MaryGrace even texts with residents, checking in and checking up on them. Her sister McKenzie says, “It’s beneficial to her to have this routine and she is really beneficial for the residents. It’s been good for all of them.”

And MaryGrace helps out at home too. “I do dishes and laundry,” she says proudly, “and I sweep the floor, and I sweep the porch. I make my bed every day.”

She loves animals and says one of her favorite chores is to “help dad take care of the cows.”

Always busy, MaryGrace enjoys her large card ministry, sending notes and birthday cards to people all over. She has a powerful prayer life, praying fervently for blessings for her many loved ones and friends. She continually seeks to better herself and is currently taking online classes from the IXL Academy and would like to get her driver’s license one day. She loves to sing and is a Taylor Swift fan. But foremost among all she does, her family says making people happy is her favorite activity.

Thank you MaryGrace for bringing sunshine and sweetness to folks who could use it the most and showing the world what grace truly looks like.