Residents of Grace Manor at Hunters Creek got a nice surprise on April 3, when they looked out their windows and saw a parade just for them.
A line of more than 30 cars containing residents’ family members, many of them holding up signs for their loved ones, wrapped around the senior living facility that afternoon in a big display of love and support from the community.
“We expected maybe five or 10 cars to come,” Executive Director Sheryl Vitelli said. “It was closer to 40. All the way around, they were completely connected around the building. I was speechless and completely overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. It was absolutely incredible.”
The parade, Vitelli said, was kept a secret from the Grace Manor residents from the start. After seeing a video of some friends in Wesley Chapel hosting a neighborhood parade for area kids, Vitelli forwarded it to the Grace Manor marketing team and to residents’ families so they could all cook up their own parade plans together.
“I thought that was a wonderful way to lift their spirits and let them know ‘we’re still here for you,’” Vitelli said.
