No Generation Gap Here

For 16 years, the Community Service Club at Bretton Woods Elementary school in Hauppauge has made a difference in their community. This year was no different. Every Wednesday a group of 60 fourth and fifth graders travels to The Arbors at Islandia East, an adult assisted living community, where they visit with the senior residents. The students read books, write stories and engage in lively conversation with the same resident or group of residents. Club member Sofia shared, “I like Community Service because I like to read books to the residents, but my favorite part of all is to see them smile and to keep them company!” Tammie P. added, “I love hearing different stories from my resident about how she celebrated her holidays.”

Everlasting bonds are formed with each and every visit, and respect and appreciation between the groups flourish. During these living lessons, historical events are brought to life in a way no book can. Recently, the students learned about Pearl Harbor in school and were then mesmerized by one of the residents who landed on the beach in Normandy, France in June of 1944. Summing up their visit Livia exclaimed, “I love community service because it’s so nice learning about the elders and it just makes my day!”