Giving back to the community starts at a young age and comes naturally to the family of Nancy and Tom Bateman, volunteers at St. Martin’s Home. Nancy, Association Jeanne Jugan coordinator, and Tom are “fixtures” at the Home helping the Little Sisters and Residents as needed.
At the age of 5, their granddaughter Caroline Bateman decided to sell lemonade near her home on the route of the annual 4th of July parade. This tradition continues 10 years later with Caroline, now 15 and a student at Mt. de Sales Academy, enlisting the help of her siblings Casey (12), Ellen (7), and Gavin (5), along with numerous Bateman cousins including Liz Bateman and other family friends. While most would applaud this as an entrepreneurial effort, the Bateman family sees this in the spirit of giving back to the community. In past years, they donated the money to charities including: St. Jude’s Hospital, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and to a charity supporting a personal friend who underwent a heart transplant. This year the Bateman grandchildren chose St. Martin’s as the recipient of this selfless act and brought their donation with them as they visited with Residents after the parade. “They had a great day visiting St. Martin’s and enjoying the hospitality of the Little Sisters,” Nancy said. “At a Resident’s request, the children sang a few songs. It was a great experience and good life lesson for all of us as the grandchildren said, ‘We want to make more people happy.’”
Another highlight of the July 4 parade included the children’s great aunt, Patti Bateman, a Resident of St. Martin’s Home. Pattie attended the parade with the children and encouraged the efforts of these very young and very generous donors.
GIVING STARTS EARLY