Cove Nursing & Rehab holds cookout, patriotic shirt contest
By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press
The day before the 4th of July, Copperas Cove Nursing & Rehabilitation Center got a little festive with a cookout and a patriotic shirt contest.
The Tuesday afternoon event was open to residents, their families and guests, along with the public.
Trae Cunningham is the area director of marketing for the Copperas Cove center, and the company’s other center in Cameron.
“We’re trying to do something for fun,” said Cunningham, who sported his own patriotic shirt for the occasion. “It’s great for the community, and it’s great for the residents. The residents love it. The other day, we did a hot dog cookout. It was the first time some of them have had grilled hot dogs in years. A lot of families are in town, so they can come down and eat with them and hang out with them. It’s good for the community.”
With the relatively new ownership of the parent company, Cunningham said they’re trying to change things up, and events like this are some of the ways.
“We had CNA (certified nursing assistant) week, all week. We had hot dogs one day, another day we had root beer float day.”
Cunningham along with CCNR’ administrator, Heather Beaver, plan the events.
On Tuesday, New Century Hospice provided the meat for the cookout, and Richard Rodriguez, an LVN with New Century, stayed busy manning the grill outside.
Lucy Greer, a resident of Cove Nursing & Rehab, was happy to line up along with other residents for a burger with all the fixings.
“I just love the 4th of July, and July is also my birthday month. I think this is great,” said Greer.
Later, she ended up being one of the winners of the patriotic shirt contest.
After everyone went through the meal line, competitors both young and old strutted their stuff to show off their patriotic shirts. The judges conferred, and named Greer one of the winners, along with Miniature Miss Five Hills Naomi Williams, who each received a $25 gift card as a prize. Trae Cunningham was named an honorary winner.