“We like to do something for Alzheimer’s every year,” Woodstone executive director Brittany Bullock said. “This year we decided to do something with Orchard Hill.”

Kari Apitz, executive director of Orchard Hill said she didn’t hesitate on the chance to collaborate with Woodstone.

“Its a great cause and they are great neighbors,” Apitz said. The two senior living facilities are located a block apart with many senior residents living in condos nearby.

Woodstone and Orchard Hill are both impacted by Alzheimer’s. Woodstone’s facility includes 10 memory care units. Orchard Hill has no memory care unit, but the staff often sees the beginning stages of Alzheimer’s.

Kirsten Bowler (left) takes her daughters Brynn (center) and Ina (right) to the cotton candy stand after face painting.

Crystal Krebs, Community Life Coordinator for Woodstone said it is not unusual for some residents to move from Orchard Hill to Woodstone. The two senior care facilities will often refer clients to each other.

“It seems like everyone is affected by it,” Apitz said.

“The goal was to get the residents, their families and the community involved,” Bullock said. This worked. In addition to several families attending the carnival there were several neighbors who came over to enjoy the festivities as well as young families who wanted to see animals.

The carnival was held at Woodstone Senior Living parking lot. At the far end of the lot, guests were treated to live music from “The Misfits.” At the opposite end of the Woodstone parking lot, the Hasse Family Mobile Petting Zoo provided animal entertainment. The petting zoo featured alpacas, hogs, sheep, goats and rabbits.

In between, visitors could get their face painted, visit the bake sale, snack on cotton candy or make themselves a walking taco

Woodstone Senior Living staff Thejen Luoth (left) Chloe Neal (center) and Allie Cooke (right) work the cotton candy machine at the Petting Zoo Alzheimer’s fundraiser.

Ninety-year-old Gladys LeGare visited from her nearby condo. It was a chance to visit with her 92-year-old sister Helen Nonnemacher from Orchard Hill.

The two sisters said the fundraiser was a great get-together for them and their neighbors. LeGare was excited to try a walking taco for the first time. She had never had a chance to try one before.

“It was wonderful,” LeGare said. “There is a lot of stuff in this walking taco and its not overly spicy.”

Nonnemacher said she was already a fan of walking tacos from living at Orchard Hill.

Some of the younger generation skipped the walking tacos and went straight to the cotton candy stand. Woodstone staff Thejen Luoth, Chloe Neal and Allie Cooke operated the cotton candy machine. It was a first for all three staff.

Brothers Finn (left) and Cal Sevine (right) enjoy cotton candy before exploring the petting zoo.

“It has its set of challenges,” Luoth said.

“But it is good experience to train on it,” Neal said.

There were no complaints among guests. Everyone received their cotton candy treat in a timely manner.

Sarah Sveine brought her boys Finn and Cal to the carnival. The boys enjoyed the cotton candy stand but said their favorite part was the petting zoo. Finn was a fan of the rabbits and Cal said the alpacas were “the coolest.”

Sarah Sveine said Cal is always ready to visit a zoo or animal exhibit. When she saw the fundraiser advertised online, she knew they had to go.

The Misfits play a concert during the Woodstone/Orchard Hill Alzheimer’s fundraiser carnival.

Shelby Thrun and her two-year-old Penelope Thrun also attended the fundraiser to hangout with the animals, but also took advantage of the face painting station. Penelope was able to pet the animals with the face of colorful kitten.

“It is fun to see the generations come together,” Bullock said of the carnival. “It has exceeded all of our expectations. We’re definitely going to do this again next year.”

All the money raised from the fundraiser will go to the Alzheimer’s Foundation. It will help fund studies and research, but it also supports families and caregivers impacted by the condition.

Sisters Gladys LeGare (left) and Helen Nonnemacher (right) have fun together at the Woodstone and Orchard Hill fundraiser carnival.

Brynn Bowler (left) and Ina Bowler get in the pen with the animals at Woodstone.

Vicky and Ken Rolloff brought their own lawn chairs. The couple lived down the street from Woodstone and decided to enjoy the tunes.