| Old Place New Vision |
| Written by John Plucenik | ||||||
 Juanita Sarnak cares for people.That might be an understatement considering she has owned and operated a highly respected personal care home for the past 29 years. And if it is up to her, she will be caring for people for many more years. As time goes by, it is getting harder and harder. “When I first went into this line of work it wasn’t a job, it was a ministry. Some of our clientele lived with us for 22 years and became an extension of our family,” said ‘Nita. “Over the past few years, the rules and regulations have become so stringent, it almost seems they are trying to phase out the smaller family-run homes by all the demands placed on us. A 15-bed facility is put in the same rule book as a 120-bed facility. They are more interested in paperwork regulations than the actual care and well-being of the person.” This past summer, she made the painful decision to give up her license. She wasn’t alone, as 14 other similar facilities in our local district did the same. “This was not an easy choice to make; however, I foresee things continuing to get worse instead of better,” she conceded. The local native could never have predicted the profession would slide so quickly away from what smaller homes were intended to provide– real personal care. Some speculate big bucks, big lobbyists, and big special interests led to changes to squeeze the little guy out. Our most precious community assets, our elderly, have now been reduced to cattle- like commodities forced into larger facilities. Don’t expect our elected officials to provide any relief soon. The personal care business might have changed dramatically, but ‘Nita’s heart forpeople hasn’t. While state bureaucrats might be clueless to people’s needs, ‘Nita sees a tremendous need among another population- women facing crisis pregnancies who are looking for some hope. Women who are looking for a home with love to bring their children into the world. She was first made aware of this great need by Barb Giordano, a local counselor with the Catholic Social Services’ FirstSteps crisis pregnancy program. “She told me she is seeing seven pregnant women in the county prison alone who would jump at the opportunity to move into a caring maternity home if given the chance,” said ‘Nita. While both Christian women are prayer warriors, they have not sat idle waiting for any sudden divine intervention. “We have spoken with many people in our community and researched other homes and found out there is a tremendous need for safe housing for pregnant women,” said ‘Nita. “We visited a maternity home in Lancaster and one in Reading and were very optimistic. Many of the things that were a challenge for them, like finding a zoned home, buying furnishings, etc., are already in place for my home. So we already have a huge head start.” But ‘Nita is still not ruling out divine intervention to help make it happen. Years ago, she had a prophecy spoken over her and her home in Exeter. The woman told her she would be taking care of pregnant women some day at her home. “I could easily sell the home and find a job, but I don’t feel my calling has changed. I believe I am called to continue to care for people, but now the population that I’m focused on has changed,” she said. She is working diligently with local groups to explore the feasibility of turning the facility into a maternity home. She also sees working with local adoption agencies to provide the best alternatives to women in need. “I still have my eight-bedroom home that is set up and zoned as a group home. It’s in a remote location and ideal with plenty of open space, little traffic, and plenty of scenic beauty.” But, it is in far from turnkey condition. “There are some things in the home that need to be replaced, like flooring, painting, and regular wear and tear. However, I’ve already had a small group of ladies who have volunteered to help with some chores,” she said. “I would love to see this become a project the whole community can embrace. We are asking churches to think about adopting us as a home mission.” ‘Nita lost a huge partner when her husband of 38 years, Danny, a roofer by trade, suddenly passed away from a heart attack last October while on the job. He was only 56. But ‘Nita has always been a strong-willed, self-supporting type of person, and she must pull on those strengths now more than ever during this transition. She is appreciative that many of the people who Danny touched are willing to help her in her effort. However, never one to feel sorry for herself, she would rather talk about the future than the past. “There’s a lot of work to be done,” she said. “Currently, the basement is being renovated to make room for a baby pantry. Our needs are for donations of diapers, baby items, paint, or time from tradespeople, because we don’t expect many of the women will have much to contribute financially.” In anticipation of providing comprehensive care for mothers-to-be, ‘Nita has received training and certification as a FirstSteps crisis pregnancy counselor, along with her daughter, Shelby, who already has several active clients. “I believe that what these women need is someone who can look past their faults and see their potential. We need to draw out of them in such a way that they can regain hope for their future and their family,” she said. “I’m not looking to provide these women with just shelter. I want to provide them with a loving home where they can learn to be a good parent, a cook, to budget their finances, gain job skills, and further their education. When they leave the home, they will be equipped and empowered.” Although ‘Nita gave up her license, she will never give up her ministry of caring for people. (If you would like to help make the maternity home a reality as a volunteer or by donating any resources needed, contact ‘Nita, pictured above, directly at 654-0388. She will appreciate any help you can bless her with.) Bookmark with:
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