May Day was the day settlers of the American continent celebrated the first day of Spring. In some parts of the United States, May Baskets were made. These small baskets usually are filled with flowers or treats and left at someone’s doorstep. The giver rings the bell and runs away. So, before the residents awoke this morning at Woodstone, staff were busy setting out May Day baskets at each resident’s door with hopes that when everyone woke up the sense of Spring filled the air.
The fun didn’t stop there. Residents were then directed to a celebration of Spring with music, snacks, drinks and great fellowship by all the residents as they all came together and enjoyed reminiscing about their younger years and other great stories they wanted to share. What a great way to welcome May 1st and May Day than by enjoying what each day gives us and being thankful we all are a part of a great senior community as Woodstone.
As staff and residents reminisced about past years, the Community Life Coordinator Erika Smith informed residents that May 1st also has a new meaning to the City of Hutchinson. As resident contemplated what this meaning could be, Erika stated that “the Mayor of Hutchinson has declared May 1st to be Random Act of Kindness Day in Hutchinson.” We talked about different Acts of Kindness we had all done throughout the years. Erika stated to the residents, “Woodstone will be doing our part and passing on our Act of Kindness by purchasing school supplies to Park and West Elementary School to kids that are in need of different materials throughout the school year.”
Woodstone wants to bring awareness to the Hutchinson Community that there are struggling children throughout the school year that could use some help with supplies to scholarship money. When Woodstone talked with both schools, both counselors stated they could use more school supplies and money to help send kids on fieldtrips that can’t afford it. Here at Woodstone we never want to see someone left out or struggling, so as a group we thought what can we do and how can we help? It was plain and simple Kelsey Wichman, Executive Director stated, “Let’s go get the supplies they need and support their scholarship fund so all kids get to experience all the fun opportunities that the schools plan.” From that moment we collected lots of different school supplies that the schools could use.
Pictured from left to right: Kelsey Wichman ED, Erika Smith CLC, Janet Prieve, Marge Showalter, Howie Smith, Carolyn Nygaard, Jessica Bouta West Counselor, Shelly Grorude West Teacher
On May 1st, 2015 Woodstone loaded up the bus with a few residents, Carolyn, Marge, and Janet as wells as the Director Kelsey and Community Life Coordinator Erika and set out to West Elementary school. When we arrived we were welcomed by the school counselor Jessica Bouta. Woodstone presented West & Park Elementary Schools all the supplies we had collected as well as the Scolarship money. “What a wonderful Act of Kindness this was and thank you so much for all of these supplies,” stated Jessica Bouta. Shelly Grorude, teacher at West, also helped accept all the supplies for West Elementary.
Nothing feels better than help out our community in need and do our part!