Carole Provenzale, International Feng Shui Guild, LI Chapter director and director of the community service project, recently chose Jones Manor in Bayville as a worthwhile recipient of their work. Ms. Provenzale, a resident of Farmingdale said, "In Chinese and many other cultures, the elderly are honored and revered. They are kept at home to live out their lives in the comfort and security of familiar surroundings and the love of family. Unfortunately, here in the United States, already stressed from our jobs, financial situations and our own families, we are often forced to put our elders away to live out the rest of their lives."

Barbara Edwards, executive director of the Jones Manor in Bayville, a nonprofit residence for seniors added, "In some ways keeping the senior at home is not always beneficial: we think we are doing the right thing but all we are doing is isolating them from normal life, whereas if they live in a group home, like this, they can see all kinds of things. Dogs come to visit, as do students and young children and there is entertainment and activities to the level that they wish to be involved - that adds to their quality of life."

Ms. Provenzale said, "This wonderful residence is run primarily by volunteers and minimum wage employees who are touched by the needs of our elders and they do their best to make their 'home' a wonderful environment. Staffing difficulties and oftentimes the lack of assistance from the community make it difficult.

"A recent visit to the Jones Manor, a place steeped in history, revealed that they are in need of help to accomplish all they would like to for their residents. They are reliant on volunteers and donations and without this assistance, cannot properly fix the facility to make it as comfortable and inviting as they would like for the wonderful people who live there," she said.

The result is that on behalf and in conjunction with The International Feng Shui Guild, the Long Island Chapter with recently named Chapter Director Carole Provenzale, (founder of Feng Shui Long Island together with Christine Doukas, Marisol Zinghini and Meihwa Lin of the Long Island Division of The International Feng Shui Guild) decided to step in and help to see what they could do to help accomplish these goals. Feng Shui, literally translated means "wind and water," and relates to how an environment supports the occupant's feelings of balance and well-being. "We believe in the powerful force of energy and the way your surroundings have a negative or positive effect on many areas of your life, including health, relationships and abundance in all areas," said Ms. Provenzale.

She said, "The Jones Manor has a beautiful deck but the residents could not go outside to use it due to recent damage when the new extension was added. The small 'library' area is in need of fixing, painting and decorating. We also saw that the conference room where all the financial decisions are made would benefit from Feng Shui Principles. We felt Jones Manor needed our help and our team went to work, beginning to assemble volunteers and donations to help us accomplish our goals of restoring the deck, painting many areas of the building and making both the safety and comfort of not only the residents but the staff as well to feel supported and comfortable in their surroundings."

Ms. Provenzale said, "Some wonderful people came forward to support us and provide labor. And several companies were generous enough for us to get badly needed supplies."

On Aug. 27 they will have their dedicated team there to do the physical work of painting and restoring the deck to a safe, usable outdoor area the residents could enjoy. They will also be back to bless their "new" home, put Feng Shui Principles into place and decorate their new home. "Some of us will be back long after that as both the hard working and dedicated staff as well as the residents have truly touched our hearts," she added.

Most importantly, they would like to get the word out about the Jones Manor in the hopes that others will step forward to see what they can do to help this heartwarming place continue to restore and flourish in the future and not be forgotten. "Please stop by and see for yourself what you can do; sometimes it only takes a little to make a huge difference in people's lives," she said.

For more information and to see a list of their "Earth Angels" who have stepped forward to help them with this project, or if you would like to help, please call Carole Provenzale at 454-8107 or visit www.FengShuiLI.com, You can reach Jones Manor for information at 628-1350.