Memory Care residents at The Gardens of St. Francis, a member of CHI Living Communities located at 930 S. Wynn Road in Oregon, Ohio, were recently delighted to be on the receiving end of a very creative, comforting, and heartfelt gift—pillows lovingly handcrafted by fourth-grade students from Coy Elementary School, also located in Oregon. The young students participating in this cross-generational outreach are all members of a sewing club headed by Julie Kujawa, STEAM Integrator for Coy Elementary.
“The kids come to me during their lunch and recess periods to work on various projects. They first made pillows for themselves but then went on to make 18 more for the Memory Care residents at The Gardens of St. Francis as a way to make a difference in the lives of others in the community,” Kujawa says.
The sewing club did a similar outreach project last year, donating the pillows they made to residents in a different community, but this year they wanted to do something even more special and meaningful—something that would directly impact someone they know. The Gardens of St. Francis fit the bill perfectly because the mother of Coy Elementary kindergarten teacher Helena Day has been in Memory Care there for the past four years. “Helena said, ‘It would be so wonderful if we could do this for my mom,’ so we presented the idea to the club and they were very supportive of it. They all love Miss Day! In fact, they made the pillows twice as fast this year, I think in large part because of that personal connection,” Kujawa recalls.
According to Day, this cross-generational interaction between Coy Elementary students and the Memory Care residents reflects the high quality of activities programming at The Gardens of St. Francis, noting that the Activities Director there “does an amazing job.”
She further explains that this outreach initiative is highly beneficial to residents like her mom. She states, “They love it when someone from outside comes in to see them, and they especially love seeing the kids. You can tell that it really cheers them up. It means a lot to me to have Julie and my past kiddos do something to give back and brighten other people’s day.”
Of course, the kids who participate in the program and share the fruits of their creative labor with others have much to gain from the experience as well. “It’s so necessary for kids to connect with the older generation,” Kujawa says. “In today’s electronic world, to have that human touch and know you’re doing something beyond yourself to make someone else’s day is extremely important.”
The outreach project—made possible by the Oregon Schools Foundation, which provided funding for all the machines and supplies the club members use to make their pillows—demonstrates that Coy Elementary students have internalized the lesson of “empathy, kindness, and service to community” that the school continuously strives to impart. “It also shows that our students are learning to embrace and embody the three elements of what we call the Ram Way: ‘Together we are one,’ ‘We have a passion for growth,’ and ‘Own it,’” Kujaway states.
With spring being the season of renewal, there’s no time like the present to make the move to The Gardens of St. Francis—a faith-based community that provides a wide range of amenities, including private suites in a secured area (staffed 24/7), programming to stimulate and foster interaction, executive-chef-prepared meals and snacks, and many others. As an added incentive for individuals who need Memory Care, The Gardens of St. Francis is offering $7,000 off to new Memory Care residents throughout the month of May. To plan a visit and learn more about this promotion, please call Kristy at 419-698-4331. ✲
