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School club gives seniors special treat
The students’ presence is a present itself in song and outreach to seniors.
HUBBARD — Wearing red Santa hats and green sweatshirts, the 25 members of the Builders Club of St. Patrick School sang their way through the lobby and halls of Hubbard Manor.
The seventh- and eighth-graders, accompanied by Cindy Lacko, school principal, on Thursday continued the tradition of caroling and distributing small goodie bags to residents at the senior high rise at 105 W. Liberty St.
“It’s been a project for 15 to 20 years for our local seniors,” Lacko said.
The Builders Club, Lacko explained, focuses on community-service projects for the students.
The principal said the club sponsored a clothing drive to help people in Appalachia, a food drive for St. Vincent de Paul Society and, during Advent, bought and donated gifts for the Giving Tree at the Potential Development Group School for Autism in Youngstown. Lacko and Ardaith Hamrock, an eighth-grade teacher, supervise the club.
“It’s like Santa has come early,” said Mary Jane Fulton, who has lived at the manor for three years. “The caroling lifts you right up.”
James Snyder, a manor resident for seven years, said he loves seeing the kids. “It really makes it seem like Christmas, and I look forward to it,” he said.
Joyce Pratt and Paula Pagley were in the lobby as the carolers sang their last song. “It’s really enjoyable for us,” Pratt said.
“It’s a bright spot in our day and brings us some cheer,” said Pagley. “It’s like the sun coming out on a dreary day,” she said of the gift in song from the young carolers.
Eighth-graders Julie Margala, 14, and Joey Sebest, 13, were among student carolers.
“It’s nice to see the reaction. ... It warms your heart,” Julie said. “I think our presence is like a present.”
“It’s something we do to give back to the community,” Joey said. “The residents were active in the community once, and this is our chance to give back to them.”
The students said visiting the manor was a privilege and a lot of fun.
The students noted that they put together small goodie bags with candy to distribute. They gave out 61 bags.
The students prepared for the seasonal tradition by practicing at lunchtime. They sang such favorites as “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” “Jingle Bells” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” Aaron Wirtz played the trumpet on some selections.