Marianne Kernan, Founder, Executive
Director & Linden Lodge mom to all.
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Deb, Linden Lodge Manager, with Marianne.
Christina, Activities Director & Kathy Smith.
Some of the
Linden Lodge
Family.
The day is bright and beautiful with blue
skies and billowing clouds filtering the sunshine
when I ring the doorbell. Overflowing with
smiles and hellos, the residents gather around
as we share names and exchange salutations.
The home is neat, organized, well-maintained
as everyone works together to do their part; they
are a team, a family, a mix of residents sharing a
place they call home. With everything appearing
so normal, one soon realizes that the home is
anything but that. At the same time, one soon
understands the need, the importance, the
beautiful gift Linden Lodge has become to 6
residents of 5 men, one lady, 4 staff members,
and an entire network of friends and family.
Marianne leads the way down the hallway
to show me around the house that started as a
simple 2 bedroom ranch style home that now
includes seven bedrooms, three baths. Prissy
the house cat purrs the morning away curled up
in the chair by the door while the two dogs jump
and play.
Established in February 2009, the house was
purchased with help from NAMI-MC (National
Alliance of Mental Illness—Moore County), and
once renovations were completed by April 2010,
the home welcomed its first three residents.
The initial plan was for another organization to
run operations. However, when the partnership
fell through within 36 hours, the Linden Lodge
Foundation was born on May 1, 2010, with
Marianne destined to oversee matters. Founder,
Chairman of the board, the unpaid Executive
Director, and Linden Lodge mom to all, there is
no one better suited for the job than Marianne
Kernan as connections with mental illness come
close to home.
We begin by meeting Deb, the manager of
Linden Lodge, running the command post where
the medicine is kept and where a bedroom hosts
the staff member on night duty. A bathroom
adjoins the suite with another bedroom, Keith’s
room. We round the corner to the kitchen where
the worm wood cabinets donated from a home
in Pinehurst have been retrofitted by a friend,
a cabinet maker. Also donated, the appliances
remain a gift. The large table serves meals all
day yet becomes most enjoyed when everyone
gathers to eat family style for dinner.
The hallway leads to Dunlap’s room where
puzzles decorate the walls and tabletop; he’s the
master puzzle builder in the mix! Onto Jason’s
room where he doesn’t like anything on his
walls, so the walls remains bare. Purple! Emily’s
purple room holds the “fru-fru” for sure. Stuffed
animals and girly girl treasures fill her room with
love. A Carolina fan, Dean’s room cheers on his
favorite team! Brendan’s room is the neatest
room in the entire house—Marianne is sure of
it! Including some bedrooms and the laundry
room, the basement also features a general
living space with bookcases of DVDs offering
the perfect place to hang out. Classes are taught
here; nutrition on Wednesday; Bible study on
Thursday, wellbeing class on Friday.
Today Kathy Smith shares a Bible study as the
residents gather around. Along with the lesson,
she has brought a home-cooked meal to be
enjoyed at dinner time. Volunteering at Linden
Lodge for three years, she smiles, “I am living
out the life that the Lord has given to me to serve
others, and I have gained a whole new family. I
love them; they’re very important to me!”
Sitting near Emily on the sofa, Christina
who manages the activities and transportation,
agrees, “They are family!” Christina continues,
“I put on Facebook the other day that instead of
gifts for my birthday, I’d rather have donations
made to Linden Lodge because any day that I’m
feeling down, they always bring me up. When
my little dog of 20 years died in my arms, I was
struggling, but as soon as I got to work, they all
cheered me up. When my father passed away of
a heart attack two years ago, every one of them
came to the funeral.” My favorite part of my
work is “watching them grow.”
The staff at Linden Lodge truly provides a
chance for their residents to live a normal a
life as possible. Marianne assures, “Our goal
is for them to be part of the community, to
be able to use their talents, and to recover as
much as possible.” The residents keep up their
rooms, their laundry, their chores, and everyone
volunteers at various local organizations such
as Habitat, Hospice, Pinecrest High School,
the Emmanuel Thrift Shop, and Saint Joseph
of the Pines. Attending church at McDonald
Presbyterian Church is a natural extension as
are trips to the store, a dinner out, or movie
night. A staff of four rotates shifts from 7 in the
morning to 11:00 at night. Hosting six residents
at all times, Linden Lodge never has an empty bed.
After the tour, we make our way back upstairs.
Brendan’s dad Barry meets us down the hall as
he comes to visit his son. Barry graciously opens
Free Consultations
Call 910-684-1588
p.28 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. No. 132