Vineyard Court Nursing Center residents were just getting started Saturday morning as the local Delta Academy girls from Hunt Intermediate and Lee Middle schools caroled them into the noon hour.
“This is something we always try to do with the girls at different nursing homes to show them that Christmas is more than just the commercialism of buying gifts. It's a time to think of others and give of yourself - especially to those who most need it,” said group leader and local attorney Monique Montgomery.
The group of about 80 girls ages 11 to 14 is a mentoring program in the local schools sponsored by national sorority Delta Sigma Theta.
But the girls aren't the only ones who get something tangible from their holiday public service experience.
Columbus native Victor Jones stood by the wheelchair of his 73-year-old mother, Gladys, and sang together with her as the residents joined in for a round of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” before the girls handed out gifts.
“It makes me feel good to know that they do things like this here because they need things to keep them inspired. I'm just here for my daily visit, but I've gotten to enjoy a lot of entertainment with her here this week that's gotten us in the Christmas spirit,” he said.
That entertainment has included choirs, violin concerts, sermons and caroling.
Jones' mother, who's been at Vineyard Court for a year, is one of the lucky residents who gets regular visits from her five grown children.
“Lots of our residents don't have anyone at all to come and visit, so they love this because it gives them a sense of family here,” said activities director Diane Asadi.
“We have activities like this all year, but Christmas is when we really have an abundance of people wanting to come out and share their time with us. It's like that at all the nursing homes.”
The girls are part of a larger movement that brings holiday cheer to the residents each year also resulting in increased numbers of individual volunteers visiting with residents who might not be able to attend performances.
Normally, the activities roster at Vineyard Court has about three offerings a weekend throughout the year; this Saturday was a glimpse of the rush holiday schedule with almost twice as many on the agenda for one day.
Other entertainment scheduled for Saturday included a program by Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church's youth group from Caledonia; a sermon from Patty Congress of Reform, Ala.; and caroling from Woodland Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church of Columbus.
The average is about three or four groups daily until the season ends.
Asadi said the home is looking for dance, drama and musical performance groups - specifically blues music for one group of male residents who rarely leave their rooms - to fill the January activities calendar.
A deal is also in the works with local schools to set up a volunteer program after Christmas that connects students with their elders while earning community service hours for graduation.
This article was provided by: C Dispatch
Written by: Melanie Crownover
