MANSFIELD– Third-grade students from Sherman Elementary School visited Dayspring Assisted Living residents, Friday, May 13.
The 34 students were chosen to visit with Dayspring residents because teachers had selected them as leaders, Sherman third-grade teacher Kevin Stone said.
“We prepare for visits for Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, and our last day, the cook out,” he said.
“We try and instill in them to be a leader, you have to go out in the community. Coming out here they are spending quality time with people who don’t usually get it,” Stone added. “They enjoy having the kids out here, so it’s a good way for them to give back to the community.”
Over the course of the four visits, Dayspring Activities Director Amy Clark said the residents have created a bond with the students. Clark added the bond between residents and students was important because the residents enjoy the students’ energy.
“You see (residents) sitting and watching them. Blowing bubbles and stuff, it just makes them feel a part of the community. It makes them feel special with the kids coming out here.”
Clark said the visits by Sherman Elementary always leaves the residents with positive attitudes.
“You can just see the smile on their faces after they leave. With this particular one, they know this will be their last time (visiting) this year. You know, it does get a little sad.”
Each visit, the students bring gifs for the residents. This visit, students handed out candy, sun catchers and hand-made kites for the residents to decorate their rooms.
“They have it on their doors, and they have it in their rooms,” she said. “It’s really neat, you see on some of the walls kites that were made a few years ago. That really means a lot. They home-made gifts, they know that’s made from the heart.
Mansfield Mayor Tim Theaker manned the grill, cooking and serving hot dogs to the cook-out attendees.
The residents and students were visited by 2015 Miss Ohio Sarah Hider. Hider spent the visit smiling, singing “Let it Go” from Disney’s “Frozen” and signing autographs for the students.
“I am out here to see what these kiddos are up to. They are out here to boost the spirits of the Dayspring residents,” she said amid a crowd of third-grade students. “It’s an exciting fun day. It is important for these kids to learn at a young age to help people who are having a hard time maybe are (feeling) down also to learn to respect elders and people that are older than you.”
