Beat goes on for adult clients at Meadowview clinic

It was a music-filled holiday celebration one recent morning at nonprofit Health For All’s Meadowview Clinic.

Juanita Wallace belted out a rendition of “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” on the organization’s new karaoke machine. Keith Deams, the clinic’s floor manager, took a break from serving lunch to jump in and join Wallace on the microphone.

Other clients tapped their toes, waved their arms and hummed along to the tune as they wrapped gifts and worked on crafts in the clinic’s community room, which was decorated with sparkling blue and silver holiday trimmings.

Health For All’s Meadowview Clinic serves low-income and disabled adults from Sacramento through an adult day care program that consists of a variety of physical and arts-based activities.

Wallace is one of more than 100 Health For All clients who will enjoy the new karaoke machine, thanks to the generosity of Book of Dreams readers. The organization replaced its old karaoke machine, which was stolen, and again offers the beloved musical activity for its disabled clients.

The machine, a black Singing Machine Pedestal Karaoke System with Bluetooth capability, offers access to a variety of modern hits as well as classic throwbacks.

“The new karaoke machine gives us more opportunities of things to do with our clients,” said Norma Ivy, activities coordinator. “Our clients love music. They love all genres. Music is huge part of the program. It does amazing things for them. It helps them move their body and dance, or it can bring back good memories from when they were young children and teenagers.”

With the organization’s extremely tight budget, Ivy relies heavily on donations and fundraisers to purchase necessary supplies for weekday programming – but Book of Dreams readers offered relief this holiday season by providing funding for an assortment of craft supplies for the clinic’s adult day care program. Health For All aims to bring therapeutic relief to its clients through creative expression, such as art and music.

“It’s truly a blessing,” Ivy said. “Book of Dreams helped people to hear about places like Health For All, which helps elderly people as well as people with mental illness. Now, we can offer our clients just a little more happiness.”

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 2:52 PM with the headline "Beat goes on for adult clients at Meadowview clinic."