Holy Trinity and Guardian Angels Senior Services

Many of you are probably familiar with Episcopal Homes as a premier senior services entity in the Twin Cities. Did you know that there is another outstanding senior services organization with ties to the Episcopal church in the area? Guardian Angels, Inc. with corporate offices in Elk River provides services to seniors in Elk River, Albertville, Otsego, Becker and Zimmerman.
 

These services include low-cost housing, independent living, assisted living, memory care, nursing care, transitional/rehab care and hospice care. Meals on Wheels are also provided in cooperation with Catholic Charities.

The story started in 1962 when the rector of Holy Trinity, Reverend Richard Grein and his golfing partners from Holy Trinity had just finished a round of golf and were talking about the needs of the surrounding community and how Holy Trinity might answer some of those needs. This led them reaching out to various officials; the Minnesota State Board of Health, the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota, Director of Christian Social Relations of Minneapolis, including the Elk River Chamber of Commerce. Soon after the corporation was founded and named Guardian Angels Foundation, Incorporated. The board was organized through the church and included five members of the Vestry and five outside members to be appointed by the Church.

The next months involved fund raising and planning. Original plans included a hospital facility. This changed as hospitals were built within 12 miles of the site. Funding was challenging. Donations came from the congregation and the community at large. By this time Father McKewin had replaced Fr. Grein. Father McKewin and board member Larson pursued Federal grant funds. With the aid of Senator Hubert Humphrey the project was awarded a Hill-Burton grant and requests for bids could go out for the project. A ground-breaking ceremony was held on Sunday, August 30, 1964. Among the guest speakers was the Right Rev. Philip McNairy, Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of Minnesota. The Rev. Richard F. Grein, former president and founder, returned to turn the first shovel of dirt for the project.

This year, 2025, Guardian Angels celebrated its 60 th anniversary serving residents in the surrounding communities. That modest 60 bed nursing home that started with concerns of Fr. Grein and his golfing parishioners has grown to multiple locations offering services needed by seniors as described above. Since Guardian Angels was formed, there have been five members of Holy Trinity who have served as Chair of the corporate board. Holy Trinity members serve on the board maintaining a majority position according to the bylaws as well as serving on other committees. Many other Holy Trinity members serve Guardian angels as volunteers and supporting it financially.

Who could guess that an enjoyable golf game and conversation (probably at the 19th hole) would lead to such a gift to the community? One never knows where the Holy Spirit is at work nudging us to listen.