Students make special connection at senior living center
By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
There are certain staples to Christmas in the Burlington area.
Santa’s Chalet, the annual parade – and the Burlington High School DRIVEN program out ringing bells to raise money for Love Inc.
On Friday, about 100 students in the program took to various businesses with the Salvation Army red kettles to raise money. The students raised more than $2,000 throughout the day – $2,033 to be exact, a new record.
But even bigger this year was a new part of the holiday service project. Because of a change in the way Love Inc. runs its Christmas gift-giving program, students didn’t have much to do at the warehouse this year.
So instead, the members of DRIVEN packed up and headed to Arbor View Communities and spent the day playing games, making Christmas tree ornaments and singing Christmas carols with the residents.
“This year we chose to do something a little different,” said program co-advisor Matt Behringer. “It was amazing to see how our teens responded to the elderly, and how much they appreciated meeting them.”
There were a handful of special moments throughout the day, said Behringer. One came from Arbor View resident Rod Stemo. Behringer said, early in the day, Stemo wanted to show a student “something special.”
Trailing along, Behringer – and the student – were amazed to find a room full of celebrity photography and artwork done by Stemo.
Stemo had work dating back to the 1950s.
“Soon after, all the kids were asking each other if they saw Rod’s room,” Behringer said. “He was a terrific guide and great story teller.
“It was neat to see, and I think Rod appreciated how genuine our students were,” Behringer added.
Female students also took on a different role with the female residents. For the first time, many of the residents got a manicure.
“Our initial goal was to benefit Arbor View residents, and they absolutely appreciated us coming, but the impact that they had on our kids was overwhelming and great to see,” Behringer added.
Students also spent time in the memory care building at Arbor View. What stunned Behringer were remarks made at the end of the day by a number of students.
“We actually had 10 students express interest in making this something they do on a monthly basis, so it absolutely made an impact,” Behringer said.
Students spent half the day at Arbor View and half bell ringing – switching shifts at a noon lunch break.
The students bell ringing continued the DRIVEN method of fundraising – singing Christmas carols and dancing at the various businesses to get shoppers’ attention.
The afternoon group at Richter’s Marketplace admitted they didn’t know the lyrics to the Christmas carols all that well.
“So we do a lot of screaming (of songs),” joked one student. “People pay us to stop.”
DRIVEN is the BHS student leadership program. Students have to be at least a sophomore to apply, and complete an essay and garner letters of recommendation from teachers.
In addition to the Christmas service project, the students run the annual Easter egg hunt in the spring. All senior members of the group must complete an independent service project before graduation.
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