Miguel Salas (center) and Wendy Beckman (standing, left) assist Bickford Cottage residents with crafts on May 14. Beckman’s students visited Bickford monthly throughout the school year, completing crafts and playing games with residents.
Wendy Beckman’s students at Miller Middle School have added a number of senior citizens to their list of good friends. The students spent one hour each month this school year at Bickford Cottage playing games, completing crafts, and forming bonds with the residents.
“Each of the students has formed a unique bond with one or more of the residents,” Beckman said. “They enjoy going out each month to help them work on their craft or just be along side them making something special that the residents can display in their rooms.”
Bethany Talbert, activities director at Bickford Cottage, approached Beckman last fall with the idea. Many of the activities had seasonal themes, including pumpkins in October, gingerbread cookies in December and Valentine hearts in February. At their last gathering of the school year (May 14) they made their own chia pets.
“This has been a very fun and neat experience to watch the students interact and feel as though they are helping others,” Beckman said.
