Dr Funky
December 11th, 2007, 03:14 AM
http://www.niagara-gazette.com/local/local_story_344191654.html
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/AGhost_/church.jpg
(Ten-year-old Kaj-Iameir Jones serves lunch to Emma Page as part of the Niagara Council for the Aging’s Trailblazers Senior Citizen program at St. John’s AME Church. Jones and her fifth-grade classmates at Abate Elementary School visited the seniors Monday as part of a holiday tradition.)
FALLS SCHOOLS: Friendship is on the menu
Abate students make annual visit to seniors and serve lunch
By Rick Forgione/forgioner@gnnewspaper.com
Niagara Gazette
Ive Palmer smiled brightly and extended his arms to hug each child within reach.
The 72-year old then took the opportunity to tell stories about the “good old days.”
“I have a lot of stories,” Palmer laughed. “We love it when the children come to visit us. They lift us up and make us feel good.”
Samuel Fruscione’s fifth-grade class at Abate Elementary School made its annual holiday visit to St. John’s AME Church on Monday, serving a group of senior citizens lunch and learning a few life lessons in the process.
“It teaches them about sharing and giving back to the community,” Fruscione said about his students. “They also learn how to be humble.”
The Rev. Vanessa Walker said there’s 24 elderly residents, ranging in age from 72 to 99, who come to St. John’s Church for free lunches and other activities as part of the Niagara County Office for the Aging’s senior trailblazers program. The church at Garden Avenue has hosted the program for the past 30 years, she added.
One of the highlights of the year, Walker said, is when Fruscione’s fifth-grade class visits a couple of weeks before Christmas to serve lunch and socialize. Wearing hairnets and plastic gloves, the group of 17 students served up hamburgers, baked beans, oranges and coffee and milk.
“It’s all about taking care of the seniors today,” Fruscione said, adding the students wait until they’re back at Abate to eat their own lunches.
The students didn’t go away empty-handed, however. They were give free books to help with their reading lessons and candy canes.
“It was a really fun time,” said Kaj-Iameir Jones, 10. “It teaches you to be polite.”
Walker said the students’ visit helps lift each senior’s spirit and brighten their holidays.
“They’re very sad when the children leave because they love seeing them so much,” she said. “We have a very loving group of people here.”
More than 40 students in Veronica Schucker’s fifth- and sixth-grade chorus at Abate Elementary also made the trip to St. John’s on Monday. The group added to the festive atmosphere by singing Christmas songs — a preview of its upcoming holiday concert on Dec. 19 at the school.
“All of the kids were very excited to come here,” Schucker said. “Music makes everyone feel good.”
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a389/AGhost_/church.jpg
(Ten-year-old Kaj-Iameir Jones serves lunch to Emma Page as part of the Niagara Council for the Aging’s Trailblazers Senior Citizen program at St. John’s AME Church. Jones and her fifth-grade classmates at Abate Elementary School visited the seniors Monday as part of a holiday tradition.)
FALLS SCHOOLS: Friendship is on the menu
Abate students make annual visit to seniors and serve lunch
By Rick Forgione/forgioner@gnnewspaper.com
Niagara Gazette
Ive Palmer smiled brightly and extended his arms to hug each child within reach.
The 72-year old then took the opportunity to tell stories about the “good old days.”
“I have a lot of stories,” Palmer laughed. “We love it when the children come to visit us. They lift us up and make us feel good.”
Samuel Fruscione’s fifth-grade class at Abate Elementary School made its annual holiday visit to St. John’s AME Church on Monday, serving a group of senior citizens lunch and learning a few life lessons in the process.
“It teaches them about sharing and giving back to the community,” Fruscione said about his students. “They also learn how to be humble.”
The Rev. Vanessa Walker said there’s 24 elderly residents, ranging in age from 72 to 99, who come to St. John’s Church for free lunches and other activities as part of the Niagara County Office for the Aging’s senior trailblazers program. The church at Garden Avenue has hosted the program for the past 30 years, she added.
One of the highlights of the year, Walker said, is when Fruscione’s fifth-grade class visits a couple of weeks before Christmas to serve lunch and socialize. Wearing hairnets and plastic gloves, the group of 17 students served up hamburgers, baked beans, oranges and coffee and milk.
“It’s all about taking care of the seniors today,” Fruscione said, adding the students wait until they’re back at Abate to eat their own lunches.
The students didn’t go away empty-handed, however. They were give free books to help with their reading lessons and candy canes.
“It was a really fun time,” said Kaj-Iameir Jones, 10. “It teaches you to be polite.”
Walker said the students’ visit helps lift each senior’s spirit and brighten their holidays.
“They’re very sad when the children leave because they love seeing them so much,” she said. “We have a very loving group of people here.”
More than 40 students in Veronica Schucker’s fifth- and sixth-grade chorus at Abate Elementary also made the trip to St. John’s on Monday. The group added to the festive atmosphere by singing Christmas songs — a preview of its upcoming holiday concert on Dec. 19 at the school.
“All of the kids were very excited to come here,” Schucker said. “Music makes everyone feel good.”