As Thanksgiving approaches, many nursing home residents living under COVID-19 health restrictions may be facing a fairly lonely, isolated holiday.
But for one day, Anna’s Kindness volunteers brightened senior citizens’ holiday in a very unique pandemic sort of way.
Not only did our volunteers create personalized Thanksgiving cards for the 23 seniors at The Gilbert Residence nursing facility, but the students then showed up at the nursing home on Thursday to deliver an in-person holiday greeting. As each senior was handed their personalized Thanksgiving card in their room by The Gilbert Residence staff, the seniors were then asked to direct their attention to their window. Outside their window was the middle school student who had created their card, smiling and waving (along with all our other volunteers).
It was not only a Thanksgiving treat for the seniors to have a rare visitor come to see them, but it also allowed our middle schoolers to see the expression of joy on the faces of the seniors. The impact on both the residents and our student volunteers was priceless.
Thank you to Slauson Middle School’s Austin Amaro, Stacy Stamadianos, Elise Braun, Saabirah and Amani Simwenyi, Forsythe’s Henry Remington and Natalie Shellhaus, and Tappan’s NIna Bonenberger and their parents for delivering an in-person special Thanksgiving surprise to these nursing home residents. And thank you to Maureen, Beth, and The Gilbert Residence staff for helping coordinate this holiday opportunity.
