by Ron Johnston
Gloria Weiland McMahan is a genuinely caring individual.
About six years ago, the former Churchville resident began anonymously preparing Christmas stockings and season greeting cards for residents of Generations of Chapin, an assisted living facility in the small lake town of Lexington County, South Carolina.
“I’ll tape candy canes to the envelopes, and wrap small gifts for the 35 staff members, too,” Gloria said.
A few years back when her late mom (Marge Weiland) was residing at Morningside of Orangeburg, an assisted living facility in Orangeburg, S.C., Gloria learned that many of the people living there received no visitors or mail.
“It was heartbreaking,” said Gloria, who currently resides with husband Rich in Chapin, just northwest of Columbia, the state capital. She moved to the Palmetto state in 1981.
Gloria, a retired legal assistant with Nelson, Mullins, Riley & Scarborough in Columbia for many years, decided to take action and help bring some joy to the seniors.
Mind you, all of this is out of her own pocket.
“It’s great fun to give gifts each month, provide books for their library and bingo prizes,” Gloria said. “I missed doing that after mom passed away, so I decided to adopt Generations of Chapin. The activities director helps coordinate the gifting.”
Gloria herself seeks no reimbursement or recognition of any sort, even signing all the cards “A Caring Friend.”
No question about it, the world needs more people like Gloria.
Note: Ron Johnston, a 1966 Churchville-Chili graduate, is the author of One-Game Wonder.
