Photo courtesy of Chinook's Edge School Division.
Ecole Deer Meadow School’s Grade 8 leadership students are feeling the Christmas spirit, after a recent community service project.
The school delivered 75 stuffed stockings to a senior living facility in Olds, during the school’s second annual “Stockings for Seniors” campaign.
At the beginning of December, students distributed collection boxes throughout Olds businesses and organizations so that the entire community could participate.
The items collected included puzzle books, markers, colouring books, candy, shampoo, toiletries, and salty snacks.
Students then packaged the contents into the stockings, making sure that each resident of the Seasons Retirement Community would receive something.
“I liked doing the stocking for seniors and caroling because to see all the seniors' faces after and even before they get their stockings, was so heartwarming, and made me realize how many of them don’t get a lot of visitors,” said Grade 8 student, Avery W. “Caroling was also fun because lots of the seniors got to come out of their room, and lots even sang along.”
Miller M., a Grade 6 student, added that the campaign was a nice experience for the class.
“When we went to the seniors' home it was nice when we gave the seniors their stockings. One of the people I had teared up and that made me feel good,” they said. “I was also happy when I saw one senior who opened hers started to light up in joy.”
Photo courtesy of Chinook's Edge School Division.
During the students’ visit to the senior’s facility, Larry Arvay accompanied a Christmas carol sing-along on the guitar.
“I felt good when I was watching them clap along with us when we were singing and seeing them smile and sing along with us. I also felt good when we were giving out stockings to them,” said Kowyn O., a Grade 5 student.
The project was a joint effort between the Grade 8 leadership class led by Deer Meadow teacher Sandi Hoppins, and Kendra Weisbrodt, a Youth Empowerment & Success (YES) Coach.
“The goal with this initiative is to help students realize that we have more in common with our community than we realize and that together, we are stronger,” Weisbrodt said. “Seniors and teenagers share some common traits - trying to figure out their purpose, at times feeling alone, and having a genuine desire to belong.”
Weisbrodt and Hoppins are hopeful that through the class, students will learn how to be proactive in taking ownership of their mental health.
“Giving them opportunities to contribute to our school and community provides a chance to put into practice what they are learning in our classes about social-emotional well-being,” Weisbrodt said.
“The students were amazing during the stocking delivery. They connected with the seniors and held their hands, visited, and showed their hearts,” Hoppins said. “The generational gap was closed a bit, there were some tears, there were a lot of smiles, and the magic twinkled.”
**With information provided by Chinook's Edge School Division
Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon.
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@centralalbertaonline.com.
CentralAlbertaOnline encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the CentralAlbertaOnline app.