Giving Back to a nursing home
This service project was another blessing that rose out of the COVID-19 situation. Since my high school had to move to online classes, a teacher and I came up with a way to serve those at a nursing home.
We wanted to treat both the residents and the staff at the nursing home. For the residents, students and families wrote them letters that will go along with a piece of art also made by students. Now the staff will also receive letters, and they get a free sandwich or coffee of their choice.
Step 1: Serve God
- The nursing home we are serving is a Christian living community, meaning we are caring for those who lived lives for Christ but also those who care for them.
Step 2: Communication
- This opportunity came about through the coordinator of my Certified Nursing Assistant program and her work connection. She is our point person between myself and another teacher as we communicate with our student body. The school's students and families have stepped up and written many letters for the residents and healthcare staff.
Step 3: Finances
- The finances of this service project are located in the gifts to the healthcare workers. While not all the final details are completed just yet, the costs are not super high. We are providing each staff member with a Jimmy John's sandwich or a Fika Coffee House beverage. The money to pay for this will come from some extra fundraising for my trip that has an expiration date, before the postponement date of the trip along with some funds from a service organization this teacher and I lead together.
Step 4: Travel & Transportation
- The transportation for the project is delivering the treats for the staff and the letters, which is not a significant amount.
Step 5: Loose Ends
- There were a few tricky spots in getting all the logistics of this service opportunity worked with the strict COVID-19 guidelines these specific elderly care facilities must have. Communication and flexibility have allowed us to cooperate with these in a safe, but meaningful way for the residents and staff we are trying to serve.
- We wanted to make sure each staff member gets the treat they personally want. To do this, we created a survey that helps them select what they want and if they have any special restrictions related to it. The pictures below help to view it.
Step 6: Pull the Plan together
- The bad news is this service project has not been fully completed by the time this project is due. However, I will be uploading the cute pictures of the nurses holding their coffees, once it is done.
- The good news is that service is never done and there is always another project to get involved in. This also may not be a one time event as these communities are very vulnerable but valuable to everyone.