Walnut Creek Elementary students connect with Walnut Hills residents for trick-or-treat
Residents at Walnut Hills were able to make a lot of new friends during the second annual Walnut Creek Elementary trick-or-treat visit. On Thursday, Oct. 29, classes at Walnut Creek got decked out in their Halloween best, grabbed anything that could hold candy and paraded through the Walnut Hills Retirement Home, where residents and staff were ready and waiting with buckets of treats.The event began last year with just two classes visiting the home, but expanded this year when the residents requested that even more kids visit.
“The residents absolutely love when the kids come to visit,” said Jeremy Kauffman, director at Walnut Hills Nursing Home. We do the Read With Me project, where the students come down and read to the residents, and this is just another extension of how we can get the youth to interface with the seniors here. Nothing can bring a smile to the residents’ faces like the kids can.”
According to Louise Hershberger, who, along with Lisa Detweiler, spearheads the event, last year’s trick-or-treat featured two classes and some of the staff’s children, which the residents said weren’t nearly enough. Hershberger talked to Ken Miller, the Walnut Creek Elementary principal, who agreed to have the entire student body get decked out to visit.
Walnut Hills put up a donation box in which staff members could donate treats for the residents to hand out, or to donate money, which went to the purchase of food, drink and more candy. Hershberger said that kids may come in somewhat leery about connecting with seniors, but it doesn’t take long for them to warm up.
“I think once the kids get past that initial fear of something different, they make connections and that fear of the unknown goes away, and they end up having a great time,” said Hershberger. “I know our residents look forward to their visit.”
On this day, horses, princesses, ninjas, doctors, superheroes... you name it, could probably be found wandering the halls of Walnut Hills with a bag of candy in hand, having a good time. And what a way for kids to have a grand time dressing up for Halloween, while creating a connection with a group that is probably 10 times their age. But that is exactly what this day is designed to do.
“The residents love the interaction, and I have heard a lot of laughter and saw a lot of smiles from the kids, so obviously, they are enjoying themselves as well,” said Detweiler. “It makes for a pretty special day for all of us to see the kids here having a good time with the residents.”