11-year-old brings smiles to residents through cards
‘When you can join young with old you can’t get any better than that’
Tuesday March 9, 2010 -- Jennifer Higgs
When Grade 6 student Brittany Boyce was looking for a way to make a difference in her community she decided to create Valentine’s Day cards for residents at Kensington Village retirement and long-term care home.

Brittany is involved in a program called Future Possibilities at Ealing Public School in London. A couple students in each class are chosen to participate in the program, which encourages them to get involved in something that will make a difference in the community.

Brittany’s mother, Jennifer Boyce, says her daughter chose to make the cards for seniors at the home because she wanted to make residents smile.

Brittany and a couple classmates made 150 cards for the seniors. On Feb. 13, Jennifer and Brittany visited the home to distribute the cards.

Jennifer says the residents were excited to receive the cards. One resident said she felt like she was going to cry and then did.

Lynda McNabb, Kensington’s volunteer and spiritual care co-ordinator, says children make a difference in the lives of residents.

When a positive volunteer experience happens a lasting impression is made, she adds.

“These are the young people who willingly donate their time to volunteer,” says McNabb. “When you can bring young people into a long-term care (home) and bring a community (member) from the outside into your inside world, you connect with the people inside.

“I think when you can join young with old you can’t get any better than that,” she adds.

McNabb says having Brittany make and hand out the cards made an impact on the residents.

“They loved it,” says McNabb. “For somebody to think that they were that special, that was pretty cool.

“They said it was so amazing to have this little girl take the time to make these, and they were all individually made with craft supplies,” says McNabb.

Jennifer says Brittany experienced the gratification of making someone else’s day.

“You see the difference (in the residents),” says Jennifer.

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