Avita staff and residents have a barbecue with student volunteers

Post date: Jun 05, 2019 8:14:9 PM

On June 3rd, 25 students from Wells Junior High School visited with residents and staff at Avita of Wells. The fifth through the eighth group was at this assisted living facility for a barbeque lunch and to be recognized for their volunteerism at Avita over the past school year.

For months, on a regular, rotating basis, a small group of these students visited the memory care facility around noon to serve lunch and work at the front desk. According to Renee Savage, the coordinator of the program, this partnership between the school and Avita began three years ago with only 10 students. Savage pointed out that Lily Tomaszeski, one of this year’s school volunteers, has been participating in the program since its inception.

At a holiday party for Avita residents in December of 2018, student Melody Goodwin said, “It is really nice to come over here and serve them food.” Goodwin, a seventh-grade student, added that it is nice to “chit chat” with the residents. Volunteer Teagan Hludik, who is in the 6th grade, said at that time, “I love it because we see the residents every week and we get to interact with them.” Hludik pointed out that some of the residents have families that “don‘t live in the state so they don’t have any people to visit them. When we come, they feel happy because we’ll …give them smiles.”

A group of Wells Junior High School student volunteers visiting with residents and staff at Avita of Wells on June 3, 2019.