By Ruth Ann Ruiz
The Post Newspaper Features Editor
On Friday, Katherine-Herrin-Keith, dressed as a pink Mrs. Claus and visited a nursing facility in Texas City to deliver Christmas cheer. Then she swung on over to another facility and provided a Christmas party.
It takes a unique and special person to reach out and spend time with older adults living in nursing facilities, and Katherine Herrin-Keith is one of those special people. The initiative is her own.
To help her prepare for these visits, she has friends and neighbors who donate small stuffed animals. She organizes the toys in her home, then into her vehicle to the facility and next into a wagon which she pulls along the hallways of the nursing facilities.
Watching as she delivered the small gestures of love into the arms of recipients was a profound experience. Some of them latched onto the soft fluffy animals with eagerness while others were less jubilant.
She hugged those who wanted a hug and kept her distance from the ones who were not interested.
On the day of Katherine’s visit, the staff who work hours to provide care and comfort to the residents were also dressed in festive Christmas clothing.
At The Phoenix Post-Acute, she arrived with party favors, party snacks and her stuffed animal wagon. Rigos Café in Texas City donated a barbeque dinner for each resident, and Benji Ramsell donated his musical talent.
“Benji comes to sing at no cost whenever I need him,” Katherine said.
The residents seemed to have a good time at their Christmas party. While Benji played old, familiar tunes and some Christmas songs, there was delight in the residents’ eyes. Some of them swayed in their seats to the rhythm and there was occasional applause for a song that made them particularly happy.
Watching Katherine in action as she smiled and greeted each resident with a “Merry Christmas” and then listening to her describe with great love the residents whom she has known for several years was a heartwarming experience.
I interviewed and featured her in The Post Newspaper in 2021 shortly after the winter storm. During the first interview, she spoke of her work with older adults and showed me the stuffed animals lined up in her dining room. But seeing her in action brought out the heart and soul of what she does for seniors in Galveston County.
Katherine visits facilities throughout the year, always dressing in a costume fit for the season and delivering cheer with her stuffed animals and her spirit of joy. Evidence of her past visits decorates the nightstands and dressers of several residents.
