From Wesley Community Foundation
The sweet scent of spices wafting down the hallway as delicious cookies bake in the oven. The detailed hand-stitching of quilts. The colorful children’s aprons sewed by an expert seamstress. The creative beauty of hand-made jewelry. These are the many gifts of Wilda McOmber, a longtime Wesley Des Moines resident who has spent nearly 30 years enriching the community she calls home.
Showing Support
Wilda’s purposeful living for the past 103 years is as inspiring as it is generous. She supported the organization’s mission even before she became a Wesley resident. Her favorite Wesley Community Foundation fund to support is the Circle of Concern*. The fund subsidizes the rent of residents who have, through no fault of their own, outlived their financial resources. This allows residents, at their most vulnerable age, to continue living in the Wesley community they chose and love.
To Wilda, caring for neighbors is simply what a loving community does.
She has seen a lot of change in the community since first moving into a Cottage in the 1990s. Whether she lived in a Cottage, the original Gardens building or The Terrace, Wilda supported her Wesley family. Through her creative talents and ethical convictions, she showed that older adults matter and deserve secure, affordable housing. Her guiding principle is John 13:34: “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
“It covers a lot of territory,” she says, “in defining how we should live.”
Lives have been touched by Wilda’s giving spirit. She reminds us that community is made not only of buildings and programs—but through the everyday kindness of the people who call Wesley “home”.
Celebrate the Tree of Lights This Season
Our Tree of Lights celebration is a beloved tradition that gives residents, family members, friends, staff and business partners an opportunity to honor those they care about with a personalized ornament.
Your gift supports Wesley’s Circle of Concern, community improvements, wellness and education programs, employee grants, hospice care and more. You may designate your gift to any fund or community you choose.
Because Wesley is a nonprofit, gifts to Wesley Community Foundation qualify for IRS charitable deductions.
Make your gift today. We will proudly display your ornament at Wesley communities throughout this season.
*The Circle of Concern helps Wesley support residents with financial needs—to the extent possible—considering various factors like economic conditions, the amount of charitable donations received by Wesley Community Foundation and the residents’ qualifying circumstances.