Giving the Gift of Kindness

Peniel students pay visit to assisted-living residents

  • Vintage Care Senior Living resident Jane Josephson reads the homemade card from Peniel Baptist Academy students, who on Tuesday passed out cards and homemade jellies to residents throughout the facility.
    Vintage Care Senior Living resident Jane Josephson reads the homemade card from Peniel Baptist Academy students, who on Tuesday passed out cards and homemade jellies to residents throughout the facility.
  • Vintage Care Senior Living Activities Director Katrina Myles accompanies Peniel Baptist student Taveon McNail on Tuesday as he gives resident Mae Bush a jar of homemade apple jelly.
    Vintage Care Senior Living Activities Director Katrina Myles accompanies Peniel Baptist student Taveon McNail on Tuesday as he gives resident Mae Bush a jar of homemade apple jelly.
  • Peniel Baptist Academy eighth graders Lilly Zumbar, Haylie MacGibbon and Hayden MacGibbon make jam May 24 under the supervision of Robert Massey, who teaches social sciences at the school.
    Peniel Baptist Academy eighth graders Lilly Zumbar, Haylie MacGibbon and Hayden MacGibbon make jam May 24 under the supervision of Robert Massey, who teaches social sciences at the school.
  • Positively Putnam FL
    Positively Putnam FL

Smiles grew wide across the faces of Vintage Care Senior Living residents Tuesday afternoon as they received homemade jelly from local students. 

Peniel Baptist Academy eighth graders came up with the project by themselves, Teacher Robert Massey said. His class of 16 students made and jarred apple jelly for each resident, he said. 

There were two options, Massey said, with students proposing giving jelly to either Vintage Care residents or to local police officers and firefighters. The sheer number of emergency workers ruled out the latter option, he said.

“And, so, we had to narrow it down and this is what they chose out of the two,” Massey said.

Vintage Care Activities Director Katrina Myles led the group through the facility as they passed out the jelly. She said the event helped residents “get their smile back” after being on lockdown for more than a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

“It meant a lot to them,” Myles said of the residents. “It definitely meant a lot to them – the warming smiles, everything heartfelt. They were almost emotional.”

As Myles opened the door to each resident’s bedroom, students greeted them, jelly and homemade cards in hand. 

Many residents waved to the group of students who visited and all spoke words of gratitude. Even a few of the students teared up after handing out their creations.  

Some eighth graders said they were nervous, but all were glad to have the opportunity to give back to Vintage Care residents. 

“I have never really done anything like this, but it definitely was an experience that a lot of us could remember,” student Jaleigh Kohler said.

First-year Peniel student Samantha Goodman said she was saved just last week, so being able to give back Tuesday meant a lot to her. 

“It’s amazing to see the smiles on their faces and to be able to bless them like that,” she said. 

 

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