Guests of the St. Luke’s Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at St. Luke’s Miners Campus in Coaldale have been busy stringing beads for wind chimes they’re raffling off to raise funds for the Coaldale Fire Company.

They have made 17 since early June, each with a different and colorful theme.

“I like all of them,” said guest Jane Brennan, who helped create the wind chimes. “The sound of them is beautiful and very peaceful. I’m hoping that people will enjoy them.”

Brennan and others from the center gathered at the Miners Campus lobby Wednesday to sell chances.

Folks stopped to admire the one-of-a-kind creations, including a Penn State chime with blue and white beads, a helmet and football, and another made with sea-glass beads and a drink holder. Others were topped with old-fashioned strainers and berry baskets.

Louise Billman, who turned 100 years old this year, also made one with the help of her son and daughter.

The chance sale continues from the lobby today and Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Saturday until 4 p.m. from the fifth floor activity office.

Elizabeth Arndt, the center’s activities coordinator, said the fundraiser was the residents’ idea.

“The residents’ council got together and they said, ‘We want to do a fundraiser and we want to keep it local,’ ” she said.

After some discussion, they chose the Coaldale Fire Company. Plus, they decided to do it in memory of Kyle Zweisdak, a member and captain of the fire company until his unexpected passing at the age of 32 in 2020.

Zweisdak’s mother, Lynne Stawiarski, works at the St. Luke’s Intensive Care Unit, and said that Kyle had loved the fire service ever since he was a toddler. He became a junior firefighter at the age of 14.

Stawiarski said she was “very touched” to learn that the fundraiser is in Kyle’s memory.

“I was crying when I saw that,” she said. “I sent them a big thank you.”

Arndt said residents met regularly to work on the wind chimes, with each one taking about two hours. As they worked, they enjoyed coffee, cookies and socializing with one another.

“Oh, yes, it was fun,” guest Pat Vickland said of creating the wind chimes.

Vickland chose turquoise beads to string. And while she doesn’t consider herself crafty, she said that she enjoyed spending time with fellow guests, staff and volunteers.

Another guest, Patrice Pavlik, admitted that her eyes aren’t as good as they once were.

Still, she was able to participate.

“I have trouble seeing the beads so I helped in other ways,” she said. “It was fun to do and they came out really nice.”

Guest Patti Hunsicker said that the wind chime she liked best was the one that she completed.

Made of wooden beads, it’s topped with an illuminated light.

Despite her preference, she said she hoped to take chances on as many of the wind chimes as she could.

Kelly Ray, nursing home administrator, loves to see the guests active and helping the community.

“We highly encourage them to do any kind of activity that they can that stimulates,” Ray said. “They pick the activity and we support them.”

The winners will be chosen next week.

It’s not the first time the residents have helped the community. Last year, they raised $777 for Tamaqua area food pantries through a bake sale, while and earlier this year they painted hearts and snowflakes to raise $500 for the Tamaqua Public Library, Arndt said.