Events
Celebrating Seniors and Springtime
May 19 and 24, 2004
On Wednesday, May 19th at 4:00 pm, the 4-6 year old kids care group gathered at the gym of the community center. Ten families attended and the kids made pictures and decorated plant pots with glitter, ribbon, stickers and markers. As the pots dried, we ate snacks and talked about what service means to the kids and read a poem about service written by Marian Wright Edelman. The kids then wrote their own collective poem about service. I was really impressed by the insight and love that the children expressed.
The kids, assisted by Janice, planted marigolds in their pots. Then they ran around the gym to burn off all that energy that their hard work inspired!
On Monday, May 24th Janice, Liz Hatch and I met at the Gladys Noon Spellman Senior Center with Damani, Kiley and Austin, Aidan, Dermot and Dora. The afternoon was absolutely lovely. The kids were polite, compassionate and fun as we went to several of the resident's rooms, led by Wanda who works at GNS. The residents were thrilled as the kids brightened their rooms with smiles, the pictures they made and beautiful potted flowers.
We stopped in a lounge area, and a man named Bobby came up and shook each child's hand and introduced himself. Wanda was amazed - - apparently Bobby is usually interested in nothing and nobody. We were really proud of the kids, who climbed out of themselves and any nervousness they were experiencing to make each visit really special. I am always surprised about how much children have to teach us.
Maureen Dwyer and Janice Clark-Mereday
Co-coordinators 4-6 year old group
maureen@sitarcenter.org
Janice.Mereday@bep.treas.gov