The Middle School Youth Group at St. Peter’s Church in Weston is this year’s Outstanding Community Group, according to Hearth, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending elder homelessness. Each year Hearth recognizes outstanding volunteers who help further its mission and improve the lives of its residents and clients.
Members of the St. Peter’s Church Middle School Youth Group in front of the Ruggles Assisted Living Facility last May.
The St. Peter’s youth will receive their award at a reception on April 28 in recognition for their activities with the residents at Ruggles Affordable Assisted Living Community last spring, and for organizing the Winter Walk to End Elder Homelessness in December. That event raised more than $9,000 for Hearth’s Outreach Program, which helps homeless elders find safe, permanent housing. Youth from First Parish Church and St. Julia’s Church were partners in the walk effort.
Last spring, after meeting with the Ruggles facility’s staff and residents, the youth group decided to furnish the common area with a Nintendo Wii system. The project matched the residents’ desires to keep active and to connect with younger people and the world around them with the middle schoolers’ interests in video gaming and meeting new people. The group procured funds from the St. Peter’s Outreach Committee for the purchase. At a party in May, the youth presented and installed the new Wii system, trained residents and staff on how to use it, enjoyed an energetic afternoon bowling and playing baseball and shared a festive dessert with all involved.
Youth from St Peter’s Church, First Parish and St. Julia's walk to raise money for Hearth outreach.
John McDaniel teaches Ruggles resident Lucille Cutting how to use the new Wii game system.
“Some of the kids remarked that it was almost like being with their grandparents,” the Rev. Hall Kirkham, Assistant Rector at St. Peter’s, explained. “Kids felt listened to and respected, felt compassion and, I think, affection for the elders, and realized that this population is more familiar and recognizable than they might have thought they’d be. This is a huge learning for them, I think. The elders got a kick out of the kids being there, seemed genuinely delighted to have the energy and excitement the kids radiate.”