Welcome sign at Sarah House
In June of 2012, World Dancers Teresa Nowak and Diane Russell brought a new Santa Barbara project suggestion to World Dance. Sarah House is an eight-room home that provides holistic hospice care to those facing the end of life—who have no home to go to and no resources to pay for care. World Dance raised $2,400 to help Sarah House, and Jill Brouillard, owner of Fresco Café, hosted a benefit night which yielded another $600 for the charity.
L to R: Diane Russell, Marisa Delrio, Connie Wernet, Stephen Jones, Linda Lorenzen-Hughes, Janet Reineck, Cindy Lyon
In early August we visited this special sanctuary nestled in a secluded corner between Modoc and Las Positas. There we met Director Stephen Jones—a man of pure light and love—who guided us through the home, and Linda Lorenzen-Hughes—daughter of founder Sarah Shoresman and a new World Dancer.
MARISA: “Sarah House is an oasis of loving kindness. Entering a healing patio, one encounters a magical space of love. As Stephen explained, this space was lovingly created for those who may have never known love in their lives so are being offered love in their dying days. Every space at Sarah’s House reflects this. Steve explained that there were three values driving this remarkable community: kindness, kindness, and kindness. The very walls breathe these values. And Steve embodies these values. The love was felt throughout. What a marvelous practice to facilitate the last days of the downtrodden with loving kindness and a HOME…finally. It was a great honor, we all felt, to have been shown this outstanding community.”
CINDY: “This is a special place indeed. Residents are genuinely respected while they are lovingly assisted in living out naturally their last days, weeks, or months before their passing. Individuals and their families receive gentle support in an atmosphere that exudes peace and acceptance. Once again I feel privileged to be part of World Dance with its mission of serving others in this world–this time in our own backyard! Thank you Janet for creating this unique environment in which we can simultaneously become healthier while having fun, while challenging ourselves, making new friends, and providing meaningful, life-changing help to others. I encourage all of you to find a moment to stop by Sarah House. Be ready to feel your heart stretch.”
JESSICA: “Stephen, thank you again for all of the warmth, kindness, compassion and beautiful humanitarian efforts you contribute each and every day in such a selfless fashion… you are a true inspiration, my friend.”
LINDA: “What can we say other than please know you have given so many what they truly deserve, to die with dignity in a clean, warm bed surrounded by those who deeply love them.”
To the World Dancers from Stephen: “Thank you for dancing for Sarah House! The energy you all danced up on our behalf will be reverberating through Sarah house for a long time to come. We feel so well loved by you all.
World Dancers enjoy a lovely evening at Fresco Cafe – a benefit for Sarah House