Madison721web

Sandra
Strain
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AT THE
ORCHARD
Susan Marquez
here’s an adage that says when you love
what you do, you will never work a day
in your life. No one can say that Sandra
Strain doesn’t work – she gives everything
she does her all. But it is true that Sandra
loves her new job, and she looks forward to
doing what she does every day.
As the new director of community relations
for The Orchard in Ridgeland, Sandra
says she feels she must pinch herself each
day. “My three passions in life are animals,
people with disabilities, and senior adults.
I’m truly working with all three in one way
or another in my new position!”
The Orchard is a retirement community
that serves the needs of senior adults at
every stage, providing continuing care in a
home-like setting from independent living
to assisted living, as well as licensed and
skilled nursing services, memory care and
physical and rehabilitation therapy. Started
in the mid-1980s, The Orchard is situated
on a seventeen-acre campus.
In spring 2020, the world changed as
the COVID-19 pandemic threatened the
health of citizens everywhere. “We shut
down on March 11, 2020,” says Sharon
Sullivan, the director of The Orchard.
“We went over a year under a near-total
lockdown. We opened back up on April 1
and we needed representation in the community
so that people would know we are
here, and what services we offer.”
Sandra had just finished a campaign to
fill her late husband’s seat on the Board of
Alderman for the City of Madison. Warren
Strain passed away on October 27, 2020,
ten months after suffering a debilitating
stroke. “The day after I won the election,
I got a call from the mother of one of my
son’s best friends. She is a nurse at The
Orchard, and she told me about the job
opening there.”
Sandra had planned to go back to work
after caring for her husband for so long.
“I actually woke up to four job opportunities,”
Sandra recalls, “but when I went to
apply at The Orchard, I felt I belonged
there. It is surely a God thing, because I am
doing one of my favorite things in the world.
To me, it’s a service of love, not a job.”
Tasked with stewarding positive relationships
both inside and outside the facility,
Sandra works collaboratively with Sharon
and other team members at The Orchard.
“My focus is internal and external communications.
I make sure each resident is
happy and cared for.” In addition to the
residents, Sandra focuses on the staff as
well. “We do something fun each month
and I provide happies to let the employees
know they are appreciated.” Sandra also goes
out into the community to educate and create
awareness of what The Orchard provides.
“We knew that Sandra would be the
perfect person to represent The Orchard,”
says Sharon. “She always sees the good. We
are so very pleased with what she has
brought to The Orchard so far, and we look
forward to a great future together.”
34 • JULY 2021