Summerfields West Homeowner on Mission to Help Others in Time of Need
Like most homeowners at the Summerfields West 55+ community in Williamstown, NJ, home purchaser Elsie Hewitt exudes a candid zest for living, a seasoned appreciation of value and a true sense of kindness for those around her. Having recently purchased her Wildflower home design, one of the 6 customizable models offered at Summerfields West, Elsie couldn’t help but take in those televised reports on shortages of much needed Personal Protection Equipment (PPE’s) for hospital workers, doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals in response to COVID-19. She assumed that if the “front-line troops” fighting the virus had difficulty securing PPE’s, that nursing homes and assisted living facilities must be having even more trouble with procurement.
Help for an Assisted Living Community
Elsie’s mother is 95 and living in an assisted living community nearby. She decided to place a call to its Director and inquired about their needs. “That conversation is all it took to get my daughter, Diana and myself started on our mission to help,” Elsie stated. Her daughter lives just across the Black Horse Pike at the Summerfields Friendly Village single family community, which was created by the same developer of Summerfields West (The Temple Companies).
Elsie explained, “Our goal was to make as many protective masks as needed. In less than 3 weeks, thanks to my mother’s seamstress sewing experience that she handed down to me back when I was 12 years old, Diana and I completed 230 masks that covered not only the assisted living facility, but also the school bus drivers and food service workers who were delivering lunches to local children who needed them.” Needless to say, it was a win-win situation all around. “It was such a great feeling to be able to do something to help at this time, especially because of where my mother lives. Plus, it was helping to keep me busy, as well,” Elsie said.
She Loved to Sew her Whole Life
Elsie continued to display a love of sewing throughout her lifetime, most notably making all of her children’s clothing as they were growing up. A few years back, she took up quilting, which, not so coincidentally, is one of the many activities that Summerfields West homeowners enjoy together. When she discovered the need for the masks, she realized that her quilting fabric was ideal for the job. She used non-woven interfacing, as well, and was even able to purchase some of the same interfacing used in the high-grade N-95 masks preferred by healthcare professionals.
With the help of her cousin, Marie, they were able to find 70 yards of the necessary elastic material available. “It had become a family endeavor,” Elsie recalled. “I am so blessed to have family members around me, especially my husband Bill. He has always been very supportive of all the things I’ve ever wanted to do. Even more rewarding, is that something my mother taught me at age 12 would be helping people today, especially under such difficult circumstances. What really hit home, was when my mom told me how proud she was of what we did, saying ‘I knew you’d find a way to help, Elsie.’”
Having retired in 2010, Elsie and Bill Hewitt are moving to Summerfields West from their decades-long life in a large house on an acre and a half of property in Williamstown, an area in which they wanted to remain but without the large property and big home maintenance chores involved.
Summerfields West Perfect Place to Downsize
Summerfields West proved to be the answer. Offering a spacious, single-level home in a tranquil Pine Barrens setting. The home is convenient to everything and everybody they care about. Having experienced Summerfields Friendly Village, home of Elsie’s daughter, back in 2008, “It took a few years and some arm-twisting for Bill to understand our need to live a simpler life than we had been. The first time Bill had to mow the lawn convinced him it was time,” Elsie explained.
The couple purchased the Wildflower home design. It features a master bedroom, a guest bedroom and a bedroom-turned sewing room for Elsie. Like all Summerfields West home designs, the Wildflower offers room for entertaining and family gatherings. The design also includes a spacious dining and living room. The Hewitts chose to add a carport, skylights, quartz counter tops in the kitchen, a fireplace, an over-sized storage shed. They also reconfigured the master bath to include a closet and over-sized shower. All of these options are available on all home designs at Summerfields West. “We can’t wait to move into our new home and start the next phase of our lives,” Elsie said.
Summerfields West is a Temple Companies Lifestyle Community. For more information, visit www.summerfieldswest.com or call 856-629-2011