Larry Hershberger’s connection to VMRC grew through his mother’s life and the experiences she had within the community. As a long-standing employee of Eastern Mennonite University’s dining team, she lived and worked closely within the area and came to know VMRC as a neighboring community she respected and trusted.

There was something unmistakably special in the air the evening our community gathered for the 2025 Celebration of Lights. Presented by the VMRC Foundation, the program celebrates the light of those who have gone before us, the light of family and friends, and the light of Christ, which guides us.  Words, both spoken and offered through song, created a palpable feeling of energy, inspiration and joy for audience members.

The story of the Wenger and Showalter families is one of enduring care and dedication that spans generations. It began with George B. Showalter, a visionary businessman of faith, who set aside a portion of his estate to establish the Virginia Mennonite Home, laying the foundation for what is now VMRC.

When George Branner Showalter included a $1,000 gift in his will “for the building of a home for the elderly,” he likely couldn’t have imagined the lasting impact it would have. His son, M.C. Showalter, brought that vision to life in 1954 with the help of friends and neighbors, opening what is now known as VMRC. M.C. served as president of the Board of Directors until 1965, helping to establish a strong foundation for a community built on compassion and service.

Three talented and determined individuals stood out from among forty-two aspiring nurses to receive funds through the VMRC Mary Reitz Nursing Scholarship. Kashif Polous-Masih and Daniela Montero Ruiz, both Certified Nursing Assistants at VMRC, and Faith Sisler, who will enter Eastern Mennonite University in the fall, are the first to receive this award.