Art students bring holiday joy to the residents at care facility

The quarantine and COVID-19 regulations have created new trials for many of us, but the most impacted by these restrictions and by the dangers of the disease itself has been the elderly community.
 In particular, life has been extra challenging for the residents of long term care facilities who have not been able to receive visitors for months. This made the holidays extra difficult. Not only could families not visit, but the annual visits from the youth choirs and the church groups also had to be cancelled.
 The local Nu Master Sorority partnered with students at Weiser High School and Weiser Middle School to add a little holiday cheer to the lives of the residents of Weiser Care of Cascadia by painting decorations on the windows.
 Volunteer art students from both Weiser Middle School and Weiser High School and two members of the sorority donated their time and talents to paint the designs on Dec. 19, just in time for Christmas. Several students along with two of the sorority members, Jan Mullins and Mary Walker participated.  
 It was a cold winter day but the students had a positive attitude and did a great job. To thank them for their efforts, the sorority donated $150 to the art department on Jan. 26.
 In addition to the window designs, Kathy Cahill’s class in the fourth grade also made holiday cards for the residents with each person’s name on an individualized card.
 One of the organizers of the project, Judi Warden, shared that many of the sorority members have friends who live at the care center and they felt this would be a good way to remind them that they are still in their hearts and minds even though they are not able to visit in person.
 Activities director, Tiffanee Hansen shared that these efforts made a big impact on the residents to help brighten their holiday season.
 “It’s my hope that the volunteers who came and painted windows for our residents understand just what it meant to them. For almost a year these residents have been quarantined and kept apart from their families. Visits with loved ones have been only through the very windows you painted. What a wonderful gift to look out everyday and know that you haven’t been forgotten by the outside world,” Hansen said.
 In addition to this special project to help decorate the nursing home, a few church groups made sure to come caroling throughout the season and Hansen shared that each of these efforts to help spread the Christmas spirit to the residents of the facility were a special blessing and were appreciated beyond words.