By Gary Lloyd
It started as a Christmas outreach program about 11 years ago.
Now it’s a monthly trip that puts smiles on the faces of elders and second-graders.
Jennifer Bruno’s group of homeroom students at Paine Primary School visit Peachtree Assisted Living in Trussville once a month to sing songs, read stories and recite poems to the residents.
Bruno said it started as a Christmas outreach program, to give back to the community as part of her class’ Christmas party. Students made ornaments for and gave cards to the residents.
In recent years, Bruno’s class has gone once per month to visit. About eight to 12 students come for the visits, Bruno said. In September, her students sang a song about the water cycle, read a poem about clouds and made cards for the residents.
The visits teach the students how to care for others and how to treat others, Bruno said.
“It’s a very special thing to see the looks on those residents’ faces,” Bruno said. “I tell my kids all the time that as much as they’re getting out of that trip, we’re getting a whole lot more out of the trip because it’s good for us to do that.”
Bruno said the plan is for the class to visit Peachtree on Tuesday for about 30 minutes starting at 5:45 p.m.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.