Third-graders
from Prospect and Woodland elementary schools help a Liberty Nursing Center
resident watch her card during a game of picture bingo. There was no
generation gap Tuesday morning when third-graders from Prospect and Woodland
elementary schools made their annual holiday visit to Liberty Nursing Center on
Lexington Avenue.
The kids
sang, then joined residents in several games of picture bingo.
“The
residents really look forward to the kids’ visit,” said Diana Johnson,
activities director at the center for more than 30 years.
Among those
residents is John Hadamuscin, 101, who positioned his wheelchair next to a
table where picture bingo was underway.
“It’s nice
to have these kids here,” he said.
Taryn Nall,
the guidance counselor at Prospect and Woodland, organized the visit. She was
assisted by Woodland paraprofessional Tiffany Sims.
“These
students are members of the third-grade leadership teams at their schools. They
were nominated by their teachers,” Nall said. “They earned the right to be
here.”
Nall said
the visit was intended to help the 23 students understand the importance of
kindness and the concept of brightening someone’s day.
The third-graders
began preparations for the visit a month ago, assembling small wreaths and bags
of candy for the nursing home residents.
Soon after
arriving, the kids sang “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “Jingle Bells,” and “There’s
Someone in the Chimney.”
They joined
residents at eight tables to play picture bingo, which featured colorful
holiday characters instead of numbers. Two students helped to draw the cards,
then called out “polar bear” or “red and green candy cane” or “snowman with the
blue hat” until someone at one of the tables shouted “Bingo!”
As the
residents and kids at each table cleared their cards in preparation for the
next game, one girl patted the shoulder of a woman eight times her age.
“We’ll win
next time,” she said.
The smile of
the elderly woman said it all.