By Amanda Raymond

amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

Staff and residents of the Lutheran Home at Trinity Oaks are embracing the Panthers fever with a spirit week to show their support for the Carolina Panthers football team.

Wednesday was “Show your spirit” day, and residents and staff were decked out in Panthers gear. The home was full of Panthers’ jerseys and shirts and black and blue caps, ribbons and face paint.

Staff and residents from all different departments gathered in the lobby of the building to belt out cheers and take pictures doing the Dab, a hip hop dance that gained popularity after Panthers quarterback Cam Newton did the dance during a game.

Newton also turned heads recently for a bold fashion choice. According to People Magazine, Newton wore a pair of $849 Versace pants designed with “a swirl black and white stripes with trompe l’oiel gold baroque designs around the outer edges.”

Bill Johnson, the executive director of the campus, decided to make a pair of his own Versace pants to show his spirit.

Johnson said it started out as a joke, but he decided to actually go through with it. He couldn’t find white sweatpants, so he bought a pair of women’s jeggings and painted the designs on with craft paint.

“I just took the picture that was in the newspaper and tried to match it as close as I could get it,” he said.

The Life Enrichment staff organized the events for the week.

Jessica Swanson, who works in the Life Enrichment department, said they have created banners and decorated doors for the spirit week. Thursday is spirit challenge day, where participants will compete in different competitions, including football throwing and kicking contests. They are also planning a big Super Bowl party for Sunday.

Swanson said there has been friendly competition during the week, but everyone has been having fun. Winners for each of the days were determined and whichever team gets the most wins will get a special Super Bowl lunch.

“The whole point of this was to build team morale, and it’s done that times 10,” she said.

Steve Drinkard, assistant administrator, said they strive to give their residents a rich life, and events like this are a part of that.

“It’s fun just to have something like this that everybody can get behind and it pulls us all together,” Drinkard said.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.