George and Sue Minick have been residents of Luther Acres—A Luthercare Community for almost three years, but their history with the campus stretches back over 20 years.
After moving Sue’s parents into a cottage in 2000, they saw how Luther Acres helped keep her parents active and brought out their potential. “They always enjoyed being here. When we visited them, we could see how much they were able to be involved,” Sue said. After the passing of Sue’s father, Sue’s mother transitioned to an apartment on campus, and when her health needs changed, she moved to the skilled nursing Healthcare Center. Her mother “absolutely loved” both environments.
In 2017, the Minicks decided to join the Priority Wait List at Luther Acres, which enabled them to reserve their top choices of Independent Living cottage styles. They moved in three years later, choosing a Bradford-style cottage, with two bedrooms, one and a half baths, and a sunroom. After making selections for interior customizations—including paint, flooring, cabinetry, and a few extra upgrades—they worked with our grounds crew to adjust the landscaping to best suit their vision for their new home. Even though they moved in at the height of the pandemic, the Minicks described their welcome onto campus as warm. “People would walk up to us when they saw we were moving in to say ‘welcome,’ and it was a nice surprise…everybody is so neighborly,” they said.
Since they’ve settled in, George and Sue have enjoyed going to luncheons and mystery trips, eating out, attending campus Residents’ Council and Town Hall meetings, going to art classes, and using the on-site Wellness Center.
In between activities, the Minicks are also both active volunteers. An avid reader of history, philosophy, and Tom Clancy novels, George works to maintain the Luther Acres library by reshelving books. He also volunteers by giving golf cart rides to other residents traversing “the hill” in the Luther Townhome Building. Meanwhile, Sue manages the community’s Meryl Singer Theater by showing movies every Thursday and one Saturday a month, plus managing the DVD library that residents can check-out at any time. Their volunteer work follows a lifetime of service for both. Sue volunteered regularly through her church and at other retirement communities by socializing and assisting others with tasks. George, a retired pastor of 35 years, worked as a chaplain at SpiriTrust Lutheran, a social ministry organization based in York County, and served congregations in Dillsburg, Camp Hill, Loganville, and Hummelstown.
Both have been able to find time to give back to others, thanks to the support they receive at Luther Acres. “Anytime we’ve needed something, maintenance-wise, they’re always here same day or next day, and if it’s longer than that, they’ll tell us,” Sue said. On the same subject George added, “The people who work here are just so impressive. They do everything practically — nothing is a problem. They’re talented, and it’s obvious that they care about us. It’s a really nice place to be.”