Second-grade students at Sunset Hill Elementary recently teamed up with their fifth-grade buddies and Creative Memories, a Minnesota-based company, for a special community service event. The goal of the service event was to bring joy to residents in a local memory care facility by making handmade cards. Sheila Conlon, a Creative Memories employee and Sunset Hill parent, led the effort. Conlon said the company provided all the card-making supplies and staff support. They wanted to do more than just donate to an Alzheimer's organization.
Conlon started by working with her son's second-grade class to create cards. The idea took off when school staff suggested including all five second-grade classes and their fifth-grade buddies in a big community service project.
Four Creative Memories staff members joined the students in their classrooms to provide guidance and help. Conlon says that card-making helps people engage without screens and helps improve mental health for all ages. Each student team made a three-pack card kit. They kept one card and added a personal message on another for a memory care resident.
"Our students had such a fantastic time," Shaunna Lavery, a second-grade teacher at Sunset Hill, said. "It offered them the opportunity to meet with their fifth-grade buddies for the first time, complete a fun activity that got their fun needs met and do something wonderful for the community!"
