From the time its doors opened in 1964 until early 2022, St. John’s Retirement Village (SJRV) in Woodland was a beloved, joyous and indispensable living community for seniors. After a two-year closure, community members have been working hard to restore it to its former glory.

The mission of SJRV – which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable trust – is to provide elderly persons with housing facilities specifically designed to meet the physical, social and psychological needs of the aged, and contribute to their health, security and happiness.

On a stroll through the village in April, SJRV Board Chair Stan Levers – who has worked in agriculture, international trade and banking for 55 years – shared memories about the special atmosphere of the retirement community. His connection to the village is through family members; his dad and his wife’s uncle were on the board. His mom and sister were former residents. Through family and friends, he saw up close the wonderful aspects of SJRV and what it meant to residents.

“It was a nice, comfortable, secure place that fostered a sense of community and home,” Levers said. “There is a uniqueness of what St. John’s was in the past and what it will be in the future.”

The 14-acre campus includes independent living facilities, consisting of 30 cottages and 14 apartments, as well as a personal care unit (with medical care) and manors for those with dementia or Alzheimer’s. There is a large commercial kitchen, a small chapel and library, community buildings and patios. Tranquil streets and sidewalks are surrounded by beautiful lawns, trees and gardens.

In one of the community buildings, a giant multipurpose room with large windows and high ceilings had been the location for festive holiday parties, fashion shows and gatherings. Levers said it was a place for conversations with other residents, singing, dancing, playing games or music. Family members would visit their loved ones and participate in the activities.

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES

SJRV had served Yolo County for more than 55 years through the generous donation of land and funds from the Stoll Family. The village consistently had a waiting list. However, due to financial struggles, operational challenges and staffing issues stemming from the COVID pandemic, SJRV shut down in early 2022.

The board at the time approached Yolo County to see if it would buy the entire campus plus the 3-acre vacant parcel adjacent to the property on the north side. A deal was negotiated, and as reported in a Woodland Daily Democrat article, “The county had planned to use the property for low-income housing for CalWorks families and seniors, hospice and conservator placements, opportunities for intergenerational spaces, and adult day health care.”

When Levers learned that SJRV was being sold to Yolo County, he took legal action because he wanted to save SJRV as a retirement community. “The county eventually terminated the deal for several reasons,” he said.

A NEW CHAPTER

After the county deal was a no-go, five board members resigned and seven new board members took over on June 1, 2023. The new directors include Levers, Chuck Santoni, Bob Nakken, Peter Faye, Debbie Bruno, Tom Muller and Dan Parrish. While they faced an uphill battle with restoring SJRV, they were passionate about this important community project.

“I knew all of the new board members, each of whom are well-respected in the community,” Levers said. “It is a great mix of community professionals. Our board members are do-ers. It’s a working board that always wants to help.”

Muller, a Grow West customer who farms in Yolo County, volunteers for the board because he wants to continue the St. John’s legacy of a safe and dignified place for seniors to live. He credits the founders in the early 1960s for having the vision to create a community that served a wide spectrum of elderly residents with varying levels of needs.

Prior to SJRV’s closing, Muller used to visit friends, neighbors and his pastor at the village. Both of his parents stayed there for post-surgery rehab.

“We are bringing it back to life,” Muller said. “There’s a huge necessity for elderly care in Woodland. St. John’s is the perfect place and it has the potential to offer so many options – whether short-term or long-term, from independent living to dementia care. Restoring it is a great opportunity to give back to the community.”

He added, “I served on the Yolo County Food Bank board for 20 years. Food and housing are two of the most critical needs for people. It’s easy to ask folks to donate food, but it’s a bit more challenging to ask for donations for housing. We’re trying to do our best to spread the word and encourage people to donate.”

In addition to the board efforts, three volunteer service days drew hundreds of locals who helped clean up the landscaping and campus. On one of the days, Kiwanis Club of Woodland provided volunteers with breakfast and lunch during the clean-up.

“We still have a lot to do, but the mindset of our community is changing because of all of the positive volunteer efforts that have been put forth,” Levers said. “You could come up with 25 reasons why we couldn’t reopen the village, but that’s an easy out. We are committed to sustaining this unique connection to the seniors in our community. Although I’m an eternal optimist, a crucial part of our efforts is to get the community excited about our progress.”

SUPPORT FROM GROW WEST AND THE COMMUNITY

Grow West became involved with SJRV’s revitalization efforts through personal connections. SJRV board member Santoni mentioned it to his cousin, Grow West President and CEO Ernie Roncoroni. Following their conversation, Levers asked Roncoroni if Grow West would consider a financial donation to build a security fence on the north side of the campus.

“I eventually brought Ernie over to the campus and showed him the existing hog wire fence that was in bad shape and not secure,” Levers said. “Ernie indicated that he would need to speak with senior management to get approval. Five hours later he called me and said, ‘Stan: build the fence and come get our check.’ I was incredibly grateful.”

Grow West’s generous donation toward facility improvements is aligned with the company’s efforts to strengthen and give back to communities.

“Woodland has always been home to me, as well as to many of our Grow West employees and their families,” Grow West President and CEO Ernie Roncoroni said. “St. John’s has played an important role in our community, serving the families of several of our employees over the years. It’s important to see it return and continue that legacy of care.”

Roncoroni shared his gratitude for SJRV. “My grandfather spent the final years of his life at St. John’s, and I’ll always be grateful for the dignity and compassion he received. The care he experienced gave our family peace and left us with lasting, meaningful memories.”

Roncoroni said there are only a few elder care facilities operating in the Woodland area that provide this high level of service, and many of them are already at capacity. “It’s an honor for Grow West to support the reopening of St. John’s,” he said. “We see it as a local investment in the health, comfort and dignity of our community’s elders.”

Another local entity that donated to SJRV was Life Pointe Church, whose annual fundraising campaign benefited SJRV (they raised $92,000).

“I’m trying to encourage the community, including the ag community, to be like Grow West and Life Pointe Church,” Levers said. “Consider the history, the connections with family members, the future potential. I would love for any local citizen or local business to ask, ‘how can we help?’ Grassroots support and positive word of mouth makes a huge difference. Grow West came through for us when we needed it. My hope is that other businesses do as they did and provide support.”

Like Grow West’s donation for the fence, funds can be earmarked for specific projects. For example, supporters can adopt a cottage or apartment. The adoption will go towards the cost of renovations, cleaning and restoring the living spaces for future residents. Levers said there are plenty of projects for individuals and entities to fund. A sign and plaque will be displayed to acknowledge the donor’s support.

A HOPEFUL OUTLOOK

SJRV volunteers are examples of servant leaders who are working tirelessly to make a difference for seniors. They are on a mission to change the community’s mindset from hopeless to hopeful and reopen the doors to as many seniors as possible. The board also wants to reestablish its Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE) state license by 2026. “We have seven current residents and space for many more,” Levers said. “The lights are on, rooms are clean and we’re ready to move people in.”