J-M students use art to bring joy to Rolling Meadows residents
Carly Riggi shows off her painting with a resident at Rolling Meadows Nursing Home in Franklin Township.
Bo Ricci stands with a Rolling Meadows Nursing Home resident after they worked on an art project together during a recent trip by several Jefferson-Morgan students.
Students from Jefferson-Morgan High School’s Art Club once again brought smiles and tears of joy to patients at Rolling Meadows Nursing Home.
For the past three years, students teamed with patients from the facility to customize a painting specifically based on their “partner’s” interest.
They did so again May 20 with Rolling Meadows providing canvases to students, while the school donated paint and brushes.
Students provided the talent and creativity.
“It was my first time doing something like this and it really made me feel good to be able to bring happiness to someone with my artwork,” freshman Michael Ludrosky said. “I can’t wait to do it again next year.”
Senior Carly Riggi, who has been involved in this project every year since its creation, said the activity is an emotional one for the students.
“It’s very emotional because you start to feel what they feel,” she said. “You get to know your partner, and then when you finally get to meet them, your emotions really take over.”
The students take a few weeks to create their painting and when the work is complete, they take an afternoon field trip to Rolling Meadows to meet their partner and present their finished piece to them.
“It’s such a nice thing to give back,” high school art teacher Mike Lesko said. “I’m lucky to have students that have talent like they do, and to see our students understand life situations and how to make the older generation smile. That’s an important life lesson.”