“What kind of work did you used to do?” Brendan Hish of Clague Middle School asked Mr. Ronald as they collaborated on a pumpkin carving design. Turns out Mr. Ronald has lots of experience in design work, as his former occupation was architect. So designing a Halloween pumpkin was perfect for a man with Mr. Ronald’s experience.
But it all started with Brendan’s question. The Anna’s Kindness volunteers who spent Saturday afternoon with the seniors citizens at The Gilbert Residence nursing home in Ypsilanti didn’t just show up. They leaned in.
They asked questions. Listened to stories. Talked about their middle school (four Ann Arbor middle schools were represented Saturday). So Saturday’s pumpkin painting and carving activity was more than just arts and crafts.
It was about making new friends.
Clara Peikert of Tappan Middle School and Miss Margaret painted a colorful, cheerful pumpkin face and crafted a paper hat (complete with feather) to top it off. Miss Margaret painted the name of her son, Ty, on the hat and back of her pumpkin, which now decorates her room.
Vanesa Gerard of Slauson Middle School, Heather Hale of Forsythe Middle School and Claire Wang and Kennady Haygood, both of Clague Middle School, carved pumpkins with seniors, while Stacy Stamadianos of Slauson, Thomas Ewy of Clague and Deanna Pych of Tappan, painted their pumpkins. Alex Hannah decorated a pumpkin with stickers, at the request of her newfound senior friend.
After the pumpkin design activity, students and seniors colored fall pictures together and shared cookies and cider.
It was exactly the kind of afternoon Anna would have loved because it combined two of her favorite activities – going out of her way to bring smiles to others and creating arts and crafts.
Thank you to all of our student volunteers and to Maureen and Beth at The Gilbert Residence for hosting Anna’s Kindness.
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