A Warm Welcome, Stitched with Love
With a knitting project in her hands and a kind word ready for anyone who passes by, Grace Elzinga has found her place at Royal Park Place.
People often find Grace sitting near the entrance, where she can see people coming and going. When someone walks through the door, she is ready with a warm greeting.
“I love it here,” she said. “I would recommend it to anybody.”
Grace first visited Royal Park Place when she came for dinner with a couple who lived there. As she looked around, she began to feel that it might be the right place for her.
Unfortunately, no apartments were available. Grace toured the community anyway and prayed about the decision that evening.
“I said, ‘Lord, if I’m supposed to go over there, have an opening,’” she recalled.
By noon the following day, four apartments had become available.
Grace chose a cozy apartment and filled it with the things she loves, including yarn and the colorful handmade pieces she creates for others.
Knitting is now part of her daily life. She uses bright colors and donated yarn to make hats and other gifts for children with special needs, team members, and people throughout the community. During her first Christmas at Royal Park Place, she gave away more than 100 handmade items.
Grace does not track how long each piece takes. She picks up her knitting when she has time, although the project often rests in her lap when someone stops to talk. For Grace, the conversation matters just as much as what she is making.
Her generosity has deep roots. Grace grew up in a large family and watched her father quietly help people in their community. She and her husband later opened their own home to teenagers who needed a place to stay.
“I feel good to try and give, too,” Grace said.
That same care for others continues at Royal Park Place. Grace regularly thanks the nurses, housekeepers, dining team members, caregivers and others she encounters.
She also appreciates the programs, prayer meetings and opportunities to spend time with other residents.
Grace describes herself as blessed, and her happiness is easy to see. It is reflected in the welcome she offers anyone who comes through the door and the gifts she creates.
