The Gathering Respite Care

11/02/2026

❤️ The hearts behind this poster are even bigger than the poster itself! ❤️

At The Gathering, we become more than friends. We become extended family. And when one of our own has to miss a few Wednesdays, their absence is felt by everyone.

We’ve been missing our sweet friend Guenter these past few weeks, and we wanted to make sure he knew just how much he means to us! So, in true Gathering fashion, our friends and volunteers each added their own personal touch to a colorful collection of hearts, prayers, well wishes, and words of encouragement. Together, they created a beautiful reminder that he is loved, missed, and never far from our thoughts. ❤️

This is just one of the countless ways our incredible volunteers go above and beyond. Their love and dedication extend far beyond the four hours we spend together each Wednesday. They build genuine relationships, celebrate one another’s joys, offer encouragement through life’s challenges, and find thoughtful ways to make sure everyone feels valued and connected.

It’s this extraordinary spirit of compassion and service that makes The Gathering so special. Our volunteers are truly the heart of this ministry, and their generosity continues to help us grow, reaching more individuals and families in our community who can benefit from the friendship, joy, connection, and respite we provide.

And speaking of hearts…there’s always room for more! ❤️

If being part of a community filled with such loving, generous, joyful, and compassionate people sounds like something you’d enjoy, we would LOVE for you to join us!

As The Gathering continues to grow, so does our need for volunteers. The encouragement and heartfelt feedback we’re receiving from our friends and their families remind us every day just how meaningful this ministry is. And there are SO many ways to contribute! Whether you’re able to spend time with us on Wednesdays or prefer to lend your talents and support behind the scenes, there’s a place for you here.

Curious about what we do? Come see for yourself! We gather every Wednesday* from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Jefferson City. You’re welcome to stop by, observe, meet some of the wonderful people who make this ministry possible, and even join in the fun! No obligation or commitment, just an invitation to experience a little of the joy we share each week.

You might just discover that in giving a little of yourself, you receive something pretty wonderful in return. ❤️

A special thank-you to Becky Burks and Robert Loy for helping deliver this little piece of our hearts to Guenter (as well as his wife Jeanette!!) Your thoughtfulness is another beautiful example of the love and care that make this ministry so special.

We miss you, Guenter! You are loved more than words (or even a poster full of hearts!) can express!

Join Us for Joy! ❤️❤️❤️



*with the exclusion of the upcoming weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve

11/02/2026

❤️ The hearts behind this poster are even bigger than the poster itself! ❤️

At The Gathering, we become more than friends. We become extended family. And when one of our own has to miss a few Wednesdays, their absence is felt by everyone.

We’ve been missing our sweet friend Guenter these past few weeks, and we wanted to make sure he knew just how much he means to us! So, in true Gathering fashion, our friends and volunteers each added their own personal touch to a colorful collection of hearts, prayers, well wishes, and words of encouragement. Together, they created a beautiful reminder that he is loved, missed, and never far from our thoughts. ❤️

This is just one of the countless ways our incredible volunteers go above and beyond. Their love and dedication extend far beyond the four hours we spend together each Wednesday. They build genuine relationships, celebrate one another’s joys, offer encouragement through life’s challenges, and find thoughtful ways to make sure everyone feels valued and connected.

It’s this extraordinary spirit of compassion and service that makes The Gathering so special. Our volunteers are truly the heart of this ministry, and their generosity continues to help us grow, reaching more individuals and families in our community who can benefit from the friendship, joy, connection, and respite we provide.

And speaking of hearts…there’s always room for more! ❤️

If being part of a community filled with such loving, generous, joyful, and compassionate people sounds like something you’d enjoy, we would LOVE for you to join us!

As The Gathering continues to grow, so does our need for volunteers. The encouragement and heartfelt feedback we’re receiving from our friends and their families remind us every day just how meaningful this ministry is. And there are SO many ways to contribute! Whether you’re able to spend time with us on Wednesdays or prefer to lend your talents and support behind the scenes, there’s a place for you here.

Curious about what we do? Come see for yourself! We gather every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Jefferson City. You’re welcome to stop by, observe, meet some of the wonderful people who make this ministry possible, and even join in the fun! No obligation or commitment, just an invitation to experience a little of the joy we share each week.

You might just discover that in giving a little of yourself, you receive something pretty wonderful in return. ❤️

A special thank-you to Robert Loy, and Becky Burks for helping deliver this little piece of our hearts to Guenter (as well as his wife Jeanette!!) Your thoughtfulness is another beautiful example of the love and care that make this ministry so special.

We miss you, Guenter! You are loved more than words (or even a poster full of hearts!) can express!

Join Us for Joy! ❤️❤️❤️

10/12/2026

Connecting, Caring, and Sharing Our Mission! 💙💙💙

This past Friday, volunteers from The Gathering Respite Care attended the Senior Health Fair at the Jefferson City Community Center, hosted by the Jefferson County Office on Aging and Senior Centers!

What a wonderful opportunity to connect with members of our community, share the heart and mission of The Gathering, and help spread awareness of the support and resources available to individuals living with memory loss and the families who care for them. ❤️

Events like these remind us how important it is to reach families who may not even realize that programs like The Gathering exist. Sometimes, one conversation can open the door to much-needed support, meaningful connections, and a little peace of mind for a caregiver.

Our volunteers also had the opportunity to share something else very close to our hearts — the growing need for more helping hands at The Gathering! As more friends and families turn to us for support, our enrollment continues to grow, and so does our need for dedicated, compassionate volunteers. Every new volunteer helps us welcome more friends, provide meaningful engagement, and give more caregivers the precious gift of respite. Whether you have a few hours to give or simply a heart for serving others, there is a place for YOU at The Gathering! 💕

A heartfelt THANK YOU to our wonderful volunteers who continue to give their time and energy, not only caring for our friends each week, but also helping us extend our reach beyond our doors! Your dedication is what makes this ministry possible, and your willingness to share our mission helps us reach even more families in need.

And thank you to the Jefferson County Office on Aging and Senior Centers for bringing our community together for such a valuable event!

💚 Interested in volunteering or learning more about The Gathering? We’d love to hear from you! Come be part of something special and help us continue growing this family of love, laughter, purpose, and connection.

The Gathering Respite Care — Join Us for Joy! 💙

10/07/2026

We’re so grateful to the Holston Foundation for believing in The Gathering and in the families we serve. Their support helps us continue creating a place where those experiencing memory loss can find joy, friendship, purpose, and belonging. A reliable time their caregivers can have a few precious hours to simply breathe.

Watching what happens each week at The Gathering, we’re reminded over and over that respite is about so much more than giving someone a break. It’s about caring for the whole family.

We are incredibly thankful for partners who see the value in this ministry and choose to come alongside us.

Join Us for Joy! ❤️❤️❤️

Many of us take for granted the ability to step away for a few hours. For caregivers of loved ones experiencing memory loss, that kind of break can be hard to come by. ❤️

The Gathering Respite Care at First United Methodist Church-Jefferson City, TN offers a safe, welcoming place for participants — and a little time for caregivers to rest, run errands, or simply breathe.

Through a Holston Foundation grant, we’re grateful to support this ministry of compassion, connection, and care.

This is what faithful partnership can look like.

10/06/2026

Saturday at the Corn and Bacon Festival in Jefferson City, one thing our Volunteers heard over and over: “I wish this had existed for my loved one.”

Our respite model resonated deeply with families who remember those challenging days and wished they’d had this kind of support.

Even in the rain, our volunteers showed up with heart, connecting with those who braved the weather, and once the skies cleared, they kept that momentum going!

If you connected with us Saturday, or if you’d simply like to learn more about The Gathering, follow our page, reach out, and Come Join Us for Joy! ❤️❤️❤️

10/01/2026

🌽🥓 Come see The Gathering at the Corn & Bacon Festival! 🥓🌽

We’ll be along your walk to downtown Jefferson City this Saturday, October 3rd, from 11:00–4:00, and we’d love for you to stop by our booth and say hello!

While you’re there, you can:

🧵 Make a donation for a chance to win one of our beautiful homemade quilts!
🎡 Try your luck with our very own Spin and Win!

Most importantly, learn more about The Gathering—who we serve, what we do, and how we’re bringing connection, purpose, respite, and JOY to families in our community.

Whether you already know and love The Gathering or you’ve been wondering what we’re all about, come visit us! We’d love to see you! 😊

Join Us for Joy!

09/25/2026

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Linda Schumann isn’t just a volunteer, she’s a co-founder of The Gathering and the kind of friend who shows up with joy in her step every single week. She spends so much of her life serving others, usually behind the scenes, but at the Gathering, you feel her presence right away, smiling, dancing, lifting people up. She’s one of our friends’ biggest cheerleaders, celebrating them and making sure they feel seen. Her fingerprints are all over this program, and we are so grateful for the love and joy she pours into it. Linda, we know you’d never ask for the spotlight, but today it’s yours. Thank you for believing in the Gathering, for helping build it and for being one of its brightest sources of joy. We love you. ❤️❤️❤️

09/24/2026

We were so grateful to be part of the Family Fun Fair at the Field of Dreams in Dandridge! Over 550 people came through, and it was a joy to share about The Gathering and all that we do. A huge shout out to our amazing volunteers who showed up with energy, kindness, and heart. Thank you to the Jefferson County Health Department for hosting, and to everyone who stopped by to connect and encourage us. We’re so thankful for this community. , , ,

09/21/2026

September has brought some of our favorite little faces back to The Gathering. With the new school year, our Steps of Faith Preschool friends have returned, and our multigenerational fun is in full swing. These first few weeks we’ve been busy creating together - making colorful pinwheels, sharing sticker books, and enjoying simple moments side by side. The energy our littles bring is infectious, and the connections they spark with our friends are truly something special. We are so glad to have them back.

Come Join us for Joy!

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09/18/2026

We were so grateful to take part in the parade of tables with the United Way of Greater Knoxville. We loved decorating our table, sharing the heart behind The Gathering, and connecting with so many friends and neighbors doing good across our community. It was inspiring to hear the impact stories from fellow nonprofits and feel the energy of collaboration. We’re thankful to stand alongside organizations that make our region stronger. Special thanks to the Jefferson County Alliance for sponsoring our table.

Join us for joy. ❤️❤️❤️