A dozen second graders marched down the street bearing gifts and the recipients were residents of The Westbury Place nursing home, 5201 S Willow Drive.
Completing their community service project, the students on April 28 delivered 15 bags and five boxes of toiletries and other items to the home. The goodies included socks, tooth paste, blankets, Kleenex, shampoo and body wash, well beyond the night gowns and socks that the home requested.
“We donated anything to make them comfortable,” said second-grade teacher Ms. Jones, recently named Teacher of Year for the Southwest Campus. They also delivered a giant-sized card bearing their signatures.
The 12 students were representing all 130 or so second graders as well as students from other grade levels who made a contribution. The project of collecting items started in mid-March, Ms. Jones said.
The students were greeted at the door by nursing home staff and posed for pictures before they put the gifts on a table.
The project was beneficial in many ways. “The students learned the lesson of helping each other and working as a team,” Ms. Jones said. “They did this in the spirit of giving and showing respect for their elders.”
She added that the project was in keeping with a social studies lesson focusing on helping others. "People have needs," Ms. Jones said.