Kids, seniors share special Valentine gifts

The visit to the assisted living center may become a regular event.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

LIBERTY — A Valentine celebration at Liberty Arms Assisted Living spanned several generations.

Three dozen second-grade pupils from E.J. Blott Elementary School, carrying red and white gifts for Valentine’s Day, filed into the senior living facility Thursday.

The group of young visitors was greeted in the common sitting area by more than two dozen residents. Once the kids and seniors were comfortably situated, singing, sharing and storytelling began.

The pupils visited the senior facility in hopes of sharing some Valentine’s Day cheer with folks old enough to be their great grandparents. The children sang “My Country Tis of Thee,” “You Are My Sunshine,” and “Somebody Loves Me” before reading poems and a short story.

For Kalyn Chavers, 7, the storytelling was the best part. She said the 2 -mile trip to the senior living facility is something she would like to do again.

Janie Nist, a second-grade teacher, said the pupils spent two weeks preparing for the visit. The visit revived an old tradition.

“We did this several years ago, but just have not done it for a while,” she said. “We are just trying to initiate something good again. We will do it again as long as they want us to come back.”

The pupils used playing cards with a cutout heart shape to create special Valentine cards with a message for each resident. Nist said the kids also brought “hugs and kisses” for the residents in the form of Hershey Kisses candy.

Bill Gallite, one of the residents, grabbed a seat on a sofa closest to the young people and asked if it would be all right for him to sing along. Gallite, who has grandchildren in the age range of the visitors, posed for pictures with several children after they finished singing and passing out the cards and candy.

Sheila Parker, Liberty Arms activity director, said Gallite’s excitement about the visit is shared by all the residents.

“The residents here love little kids. All I had to do was say a bus load of kids was coming, and that was it,” she said.

Parker said some residents never had children of their own and cherish the visits from young children. Others, she said, enjoy the entertainment of young people between visits from their own grandchildren.

Liberty Arms resident Nancy Riordan said she is definitely one who enjoys the visits. She received her fair share of “hugs and kisses” from smiling pupils.

“It was adorable. I really enjoy kids coming down, they are just so natural. They left me with all these things,” she said, holding the handcrafted cards.

The visit, according to Nist, is not only special for the residents; it is equally enjoyable for the kids.

“This is a big thing for the kids,” she said. “They wanted to come out and share this with the residents.”

jgoodwin@vindy.com