Children Craft 300 Christmas Cards for Hospital Residents
By Paul Gingras

Some fifth and sixth grade students at St. Ignace Area Schools pose Wednesday, December 19, with Christmas cards they created for residents at the Long Term Care facility at Mackinac Straits Hospital. It is the third year of the project, said organizer Anne Cowell, cultural technician in the district. Pictured (from left) are Meghan Casey, Rebecca LaLonde, Michaela Miller, and Keegan Fulgenzi.

Using construction paper, crayons, and handmade paper snowflakes, elementary school children in St. Ignace put their best efforts into making more than 300 Christmas cards for residents at the Long Term Care Facility at Mackinac Straits Hospital this week. Each of the 75 residents received a bundle of cards handmade by the children. They were delivered Friday, December 21, by Anne Cowell, who developed the project and heads the St. Ignace Area Schools cultural program.

Mrs. Cowell said she is proud of the creativity, care, and sincerity students put into their cards.

It is the third year the students in kindergarten through sixth grade have created cards for the facility residents.

One student folded his card into the shape of an origami dog. Another constructed his in the shape of a snowman, and a third created an elaborate snowflake card.

Some students with relatives in Long Term Care addressed cards directly to them.

Rebecca LaLonde, a sixthgrade student, made a card for her grandmother. Making cards for her and others makes her happy, she said, noting that the card project is important, in part, because many residents have outlived family members and friends.

Meghan Casey, also in sixth grade, said she likes to think of the smiles on residents' faces when they receive the cards. Fifth-grade-student Keegan Fulgenzi formed his card into a box and decorated it like a Christmas present.

"It makes me feel good inside knowing they will get a good card," said Michaela Miller, a sixth grade student.

Treasa Paquin, recreational therapist and activities director at the facility, said residents greatly enjoy the cards.

"The residents absolutely love children, and they are very appreciative of the cards and the work [the students] put into them," she said.

Several cases of colds and flu among students prevented the youngsters from delivering cards in person this year, but at other times, residents ask the students for information regarding where they got their ideas, how long it took to make the cards, if they had help, and if they worked in groups, Ms. Paquin said.

"I think [the cards] are a great idea," she added, and all inter-generational activities are well received. "When schools contact me to come and do any kind of project with the residents, I am all for it."

The card-writing project is also positive for the students, Mrs. Cowell said.

"The more we can get students to express love, caring, and respect for others, the more they will turn these feelings inward and apply them to themselves as they grow older," she explained.