An Early Thanksgiving Greeting

By Kendra Bobowick

Just for a smile, and just to make them happy, local Girl Scouts and Brownies are helping to bring a handcrafted holiday surprise to residents at the Homesteads at Newtown and other assisted care facilities. Program Administrator Nancy Taylor of Golden Opportunities had recently contacted Girl Scout Council troop leader Audrey DeBlasio and asked if the girls might want to make Thanksgiving cards or crafts for residents in elder care facilities.

The reply impressed Ms Taylor and Golden Opportunities Managing Director Knettie Archard. “We had a tremendous response,” Ms Archard said. The men and women living in care facilities will appreciate the attention, she said. “It always puts a smile on their faces.”

Wednesday afternoon Kate Suba and Ashley Wagnblas visited Amelia Gerardi at the Homesteads. Reaching out her hands and pulling the girls into a hug, Ms Gerardi accepted the Thanksgiving cards. Troop leader Rae Suba watched as her daughter Kate and Kate’s friend Ashley from Brownie Troop 477 stood beside Ms Gerardi’s chair and looked over her shoulder at the crayon- sketched turkey on the front of one card and helped the older woman read the greeting inside. Ms Gerardi loved the card, loved the girls, and brightened at the attention and guests in her room — exactly what Ms Archard and Ms Taylor had hoped for.

The gesture of a card or craft for Thanksgiving and other holidays works with the Golden Opportunities mission, “To enhance the quality of life for those who are experiencing isolation, loneliness, or helplessness…” as stated on the website Goldenopps.org. Picturing older residents like Ms Gerardi, Ms Archard said, “They are happy about it — to think that someone went the extra mile and did something for them.”

The holiday visits are part of Golden Opportunities’ outreach. “We have plans to do a lot of things for the holidays and this was one of them,” Ms Archard said, still looking ahead on the calendar to December’s celebrations. Thinking of the Brownies and Girl Scouts “It gives them a chance to do something meaningful and [the girls] love to make cute cards.” From the estimated six to seven troops involved, a number of gifts have already been delivered, some sealed in an envelope and others larger and colorful, while others are still on their way into an older man or woman’s hands. “Happy Thanksgiving,” many of the cards say, along with images of turkeys and pilgrims grinning back, Ms Archard described.

Golden Opportunities serves residents of elder care facilities by providing interaction with caring, compassionate visitors. Visit Goldenopps.org for more information.