Cass County Medical Care Facility to host annual picnic
Published 8:11 am Thursday, September 19, 2019
CASSOPOLIS — A local government agency will be celebrating the coming fall and the sacrifices of veterans and first responders Sunday.
The Cass County Medical Care Facility is inviting the public to its annual picnic from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. The event, which will honor first responders and veterans in attendance, will feature a picnic lunch, a bounce house and face painting for children, live music, a tree carver on site and contests. The facility is located at 23770 Hospital St., Cassopolis, and the event is free and open to the public.
“There will be something for everyone [at the picnic],” said Diana Masters, director of activities. “We are planning a whole lot of fun.”
Cass County Medical Care Facility is a government-run nursing home, which participates in the Medicare and Medicaid programs and provides resident counseling services.
“What we do is we house community members in need regardless of their ability to pay,” Lutes said. “We have always existed to help the community, not to make a dollar.”
Because the facility has a mission to help others and is run by county taxpayer dollars, Lutes said the picnic would serve as a way for the staff to give back to the community.
“This is honoring and recognizing county members,” Lutes said. “We want to invite the entire county. Please come out and see your tax dollars at work, see how we take care of our own. This is a way of integrating ourselves into the community. People need to be in tune with local government, how their tax dollars work. We want people to see the services we offer and see the good that comes to the community because of them. This all happens because of the people in the community.”
“This is open to the community, anybody that can come,” Masters added. “The more, the merrier.”
In addition to showcasing Cass County Medical Care Facility to the public, the event is also meant to honor first responders and veterans, which the facility has done through past events. Facility staff has invited first responders from across Cass County to the event including the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, Pokagon Tribal Police, the Dowagiac Police Department and many more. Veterans and first responders in attendance Sunday will be recognized during a ceremony during the festivities and be gifted a pin by facility staff.
“This will honor all veterans, all first responders,” said administrator Christian Lutes. “It’s a way for us to give back to them.”
Both Lutes and Masters said they would encourage the members of the public from across Cass County to attend Sunday’s picnic.
“Everyone is invited,” Masters said. “We hope to see you there.”