My Love for Sanborn Gratiot Memorial Home

Bonnie Bracken
Board Member, Sanborn Gratiot Memorial Home
Years of Service: 2011-2024
Retired from the Department of Human Services, St. Clair County

If I attempt to explain my inspiration to join the Board of Directors, it would be about a loving, affordable assisted living home taking labored breaths. Financials were stretched beyond meeting the expenses, 10 of 29 rooms were vacant, and upgrades were needed. The question arose: Is this old girl worth saving? The answer was yes. Because this is a non-profit organization run by an administrator who believes that all people should have a nice place to live and be cared for like a favored relative. This was how SGMH was caring for my 94-year-old mother.

I became a member of the Board of Directors in 2011, and my last day will be on September 30, 2024. Having lived in Fort Gratiot, Michigan, for many years, I have always felt deeply connected to the community and its well-being. Prior to joining the Board, I retired from the Department of Human Services (DHS) in 2008, where I served as interim Director for St. Clair County. During my time at DHS, I was actively involved in the Community Services Coordinating Body as well as various organizations and causes.

I was also one of the founding members of the fund development committee for SGMH. As a group, we held confidence that we could raise money, fill the beds by promoting Sanborn in the community, and call on family and friends to volunteer time to support upgrades to the rooms. The largest project I worked on was finding money to replace the old, tired boiler heating system. Many people helped in different ways. My teenage granddaughter even organized a family can drive that netted a $1,000 contribution. We also managed to install air conditioning in several sections of the home. The community came alive and supported this effort in a variety of ways.

Slowly but surely, our supporters became advocates. The community learned about the value of affordable assisted living for our senior population. This echoed back to the concept of Sanborn’s founders—four women pooling their money to hire someone to care for them. This model worked 80 years ago, and it still does. Hired caregivers and cooks serve the population, paid with pooled money. Over time, the organization became solvent, less dependent on the Jenny Sanborn Trust fund—until now. We are again facing lean financial times, but I’m confident in the administration’s ability to find new income streams and keep the beds filled.

In addition to my work with SGMH, I have also been a member of the Blue Water Developmental Housing Board since 2009, currently serving as Vice President. Over the years, I’ve remained passionate about sustaining Sanborn in our community. I was a table host for the Fore Lakes Fundraiser in 2011, and that experience reinforced my commitment to seeing Sanborn thrive.

I am very proud of becoming a voice for SGMH and promoting its importance to anyone who will listen. We bring together an impressive group of community members based on the number of people we can house at one time. Most people I speak with can tell me about a family member or friend who has been a resident at SGMH. This Board is comprised of members who have had loved ones reside here, giving them inside knowledge of the affordable care their loved ones receive. Every Board member is a staunch advocate for SGMH.

The board experience has deeply influenced my personal life by giving me the chance to speak on behalf of SGMH. I take this responsibility seriously; at times, I’ve been a real “pain,” looking for answers and asking why staff weren’t putting the energy I thought was needed to keep Sanborn filled and follow up on income resources. My hope is that new board members will continue to ask these hard questions and roll up their sleeves to support this “old girl.”

For me, there was never a turning point; it was always about asking, what do we need to do next to keep her breathing? SGMH is a necessary spoke in the wheel of our community—we need a Sanborn II! We must care for our senior population as they have cared for us for so many years.

Thinking about legacy brings tears to my eyes. This is a bittersweet departure. My hope is that my efforts have brought warmth and care to many individuals who have been residents of SGMH, particularly those who had run out of other options.

My current dream is to build another income stream and create a Sanborn II.