Dec 15, 2023 By Karen Mansfield 4 min read

Avella National Art Honor Society student Nic Novak, right, works on a Christmas wreath project with Southmont of Presbyterian Seniorcare resident Stuart Harmony.

Avella High School student Gage Skariot, left, visits with Southmont of Presbyterian Seniorcare resident Janice Brownlee. The students from Avella National Art Honor Society worked on Christmas projects with residents Dec. 5.

Residents of Southmont of Presbyterian Seniorcare spent time with members of Avella National Art Honor Society during a recent visit from the high school students. Avella School District also collected and donated art supplies as part of a “Color It Forward” project.

Students from Avella High School’s National Art Honor Society spread Christmas cheer to residents of Southmont of Presbyterian Seniorcare last week, and learned some important life lessons through community service.

The students, accompanied by art teacher Jessie Miller, visited Southmont to make Christmas wreaths with the residents.

The activity was the culmination of a district-wide project called “Color It Forward,” where students from grades K-12 collected art supplies to donate to the senior center.

The competition between the elementary school and the high school raised “a phenomenal amount of art supplies,” said Miller, including more than 350 adult and children’s coloring books, hundreds of puzzle sets, craft sets and activity books, and more than 200 boxes of markers and crayons.

At Southmont, students worked with residents on wooden Christmas wreaths that the residents painted, and then helped attach Christmas bows. They also provided the residents with Christmas mailboxes filled with cookies.

“I definitely enjoyed just being able to give some joy to those people who don’t always get a lot of visitors,” said art honor society member Kya Yilit. “It was nice for them to see new faces and do a fun activity. When we were doing one-on-one, they were talking about the stuff they used to do in the past and what their interests were. It was nice to hear stories about their lives and what they did.”

Southmont activities director Kelly Korpus sees the students’ visit as a win-win situation.

“I think anytime we do something intergenerational, it’s always such a positive impact on both sides. The residents get a kick out of talking with the students, and they reminisce and share stories with the kids about when they were that age. And they like hearing what the kids are interested in, too,” said Korpus.

Korpus said the interaction also helps students feel comfortable with people of different ages.

“Jessie Miller mentioned some kids were nervous because they didn’t often work with people in the elderly population and interacting with people who might have barriers. That can be intimidating, so for them to get this experience and learn there’s nothing to be afraid of is important,” said Korpus, noting some of the residents the students worked with were in varying stages of dementia.

Korpus also was overwhelmed by the number of supplies Avella School District donated.

The items will be used for a Santa Workshop, where residents can “purchase” gifts for their loved ones, such as children and grandchildren, and will be used as stocking stuffers for residents’ Christmas stockings.

Miller sees community service activities as an important part of the art program. A previous Color It Forward project benefitted WVU Medicine Children’s Women’s and Newborn Center at Reynolds Memorial Hospital.

“This year, we decided we wanted to do something with the older generation. My mom was in a senior citizen center and everyone really got into the arts there. It’s really therapeutic,” said Miller. “My mom said all the time that there are people there that don’t have anyone to bring them anything, or no way to get out and shop,” he said.

“At first I was like, what should I do, but I started feeling a little bit more comfortable. I really liked it.”

AnnMarie Kisner was among the Avella students who spent time with Southmont residents.

“At first I was like, what should I do, but I started feeling a little bit more comfortable,” said Kisner. “I really liked it.”