Students donate care packages to elderly

Students from Perry Middle School’s FBLA Club and art class crafted unique care packages for the 26 assisted living residents at Arbor Manor to help spread love and Christmas cheer.

“We wanted to try to do something different this year for the residents,” Dr. Diana Phillips, the Business & Computer Science Teacher and FBLA Adviser, began to explain. In previous years, the students in FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) would do a variety of community service projects. According to Perry Middle School’s website, “FBLA’s mission is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs.” For years, one of the recurring projects that Phillips would be sure that her students participated in was providing some kind of service to the residents at Arbor Manor Assisted Living Community.

Due to the close proximity of Arbor Manor and the middle school, the FBLA members would walk to the assisted living community and play games, put on small performances, give gifts, etc.

“It really blesses their hearts,” Phillips pointed out. She expressed that many of the children would initially be wary of doing community projects with the elderly, but as soon as they were able to see the impact that their visits made on the residents, the students became very enthusiastic and would want to go back to do more.

Working with the residents also hits home for Phillips in her own personal experience of a loved one this year. “My granny is 93 and she’s in an assisted living home in Americus, and it’s been really hard for our family because we haven’t been able to see her. You can’t go in, so we would go and stand outside of the window.” 

Because of the concerns of COVID, many nursing homes and assisted living communities have closed the doors on visitors to protect the residents’ health. Loved ones of the residents have tried many ways to express how important their resident is, but the lack of interaction has taken a toll.

“It’s been really difficult, especially for the older people who don’t really understand everything that’s going on. They were especially on my heart this year,” Phillips shared. “We’re right here, so I thought we might as well do something for them and reach out.” 

Phillips partnered with friend and fellow colleague, Heidi McBrair, an art teacher at Perry Middle School. Together, the teachers and their students were able to create packages for every resident of Arbor Manor. The FBLA chapter was able to supply the bags and candy, but two of the children’s parents donated sanitizer, tissues and socks to go along with the handcrafted cards McBrair’s art students created. McBrair had 13 of her art students make each special and unique card during class and Phillips was able to stay after school with five of her members to pack the gifts together in preparation to be delivered.

Unfortunately, when Phillips delivered the gifts, she was unable to be present with the residents as they opened the packages. With COVID restrictions, she was only able to drop the gifts off at the front desk and wave to the smiling residents from a distance. 

“We’re doing our best to beat down the germs, we spray and spray and wipe and clean. But I understand. I work with the kids and in the computer lab,” Phillips said. 

Doing something for the residents meant much more to Phillips, McBrair and their students this year. “I don’t know how many people weren’t able to see their family,” began Phillips. “We just [wanted] to let them know that somebody still loves them and somebody is still thinking about them. That they’re not alone. They’re still valued.”

HHJ News