Second-graders and the elderly partner to help each other
What is it about flowers and gardens that makes everyone happy?
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Is it the smell? The color? The atmosphere it creates?
Whatever it is, it recently brought happiness to a group of second-graders at Riverside Elementary School and the senior residents at Good Samaritan Society-Bethany.
Riverside and Bethany have had a partnership since 2000 when they created the Helping the Elderly And Riverside Together garden or HEART garden for short.
Second-graders in Marti Sauer and Alisha Smith's classes each planted a flower or a vegetable plant in the HEART garden on May 25. The garden is located on the north side of Bethany and can be seen when people drive into the visitor's parking lot. This summer the students will maintain the garden, such as pulling out the weeds and watering the plants and they'll also have the opportunity to visit with the senior residents at Bethany.
Riverside second-graders helped plant flowers at the Helping the Elderly And Riverside Together garden or HEART garden at Good Samaritan Society-Bethany. The project has been successful for a decade.
Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
"We always love to promote intergenerational relationships here," said Tina Dunlap, Bethany community relations coordinator. "The residents love it (watching the students work in the garden.) The library overlooks the garden or the residents can come out on the sidewalk to see the garden.
"This is Riverside's special area and they're excited to see the residents."
Mary Jane DeLong is Bethany's garden volunteer, who helped get the garden area ready for the students arrival. All the students gathered around the garden area and each of them planted their plant. Then the students were taken to Bethany's larger garden area to see all the flowers.
Lorraine Thoms, who lives in the apartments at Bethany, said she had to come watch the children plant flowers because her granddaughter, Olivia Dilley, was one of the students planting a flower.
"I love these projects with the kids, they really enjoy it and the residents like it real well too," said Thoms.
Duane Kruger (center) and Mary Chalker (right), Good Samaritan Society-Bethany residents, recently enjoyed watching second-graders from Riverside School plant flowers for the Helping the Elderly And Riverside Together garden at Bethany. Second-grader Olivia Dilley (left) and other students visited the residents for a short time. Olivia's grandmother, Lorraine Thoms (center), also tagged along with the students.
Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
Second-grader Joey Rakow said his great-grandfather lives at Bethany, but he wasn't sure if he was going to see him during the tour. Joey said his great-grandfather likes flowers.
Second-grader Abigale Tougas, whose grandmother works at the nursing home at Bethany, said taking part in the garden makes her happy because it makes the residents happy to see the garden.
Abigale's grandmother, Lorena Tougas, said it's great to see the students, especially her granddaughter, working on the garden.
"I love coming out here," said Lorena Tougas. "Abigale's dad was out here when he was little and she's been out here ... It's good for them."
Two of the residents, Duane Kruger and Mary Chalker, enjoy spending time in the garden and other gardens at Bethany. Kruger said he talks with the children and they talk with him and that's nice.
Chalker said, "The garden makes me feel good."
Riverside second-grader Olivia Dilley hugged her grandmother, Lorraine Thoms, during a visit to Good Samaritan Society-Bethany. Two Riverside second-grade classes helped plant flowers for the Helping the Elderly And Riverside Together garden last month.
Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
Second -graders Alex Robertson and Jenna Hagemann said they've both helped their family with planting gardens and so planting the garden at Bethany was easy. Alex said the residents enjoy the flowers.
"They think we love them," Jenna said of the residents of the students planting the garden for them. "And they love to look at the garden."
Classmate Jenna Lee said "It's cool" that she and the other students were able to plant the garden for the Bethany residents. Jenna said the residents are like her grandparents.
Riverside third-grade teacher Karen Schirmer said the HEART garden began as an outreach program. Schirmer said her mother lived at Bethany for eight years and she visited her there every day. Schirmer said when Principal Cathy Engler said the school needed an outreach program in the community, Riverside staff brainstormed and they came up with the HEART garden at Bethany.
"We thought of the garden because many residents like to go and sit out there and have lemonade with their family," said Schirmer. "It's a calming atmosphere for the residents, plus it's a way to get students involved with the plantings, visit with the resident and look at the garden."
Schirmer said the garden project is great for both generations to interact and research has shown that gardens offer the elderly a longer life-expectancy.
"It's important for young kids to see the elderly and show that those who can't talk or move around still have a life," said Schirmer. "It also helps the young kids to not be afraid of the seniors.
"This is a near and dear project to me."
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.