The SMILE club, formerly Adopt-a-Grandparent, stands for Students Moving Into the Lives of the Elderly, and is just that. The events organized by the club focus on bringing Naz students to the residents of the Motherhouse and Bethlehem Woods and then “hanging out” together. Going to the Naz play, watching a movie, having lunch, and playing Bingo are just a few of the activities the students and residents do. Attending these activities when possible, bringing needed supplies, and going to meetings leading up to events is all that is required to be part of the club, making SMILE very fun to be involved in.
“It’s great that both groups enjoy the experience,” says Mrs. Montgomery, one of the teachers in charge of SMILE. She was inspired to become involved because she liked the idea of working for something positive with the students. Her favorite part of SMILE is seeing the students and residents interact with each other.
Geri Lenninger, a resident who has been involved in SMILE for 7 years, says that she enjoys conversing and interacting with the students in the club.
Lenninger seems grateful to the students for their involvement. “I think they’re great,” she says. “It means a lot that they care to come and talk to us.
What do the students involved have to say about their experiences? “I like talking to the senior citizens and getting to know them,” says Aleksandra Kiernoziak. Aleksandra became interested in SMILE last year and joined as a way to meet new people, and her favorite part of the club is interacting with the residents. “I like to sit, talk, and just get to know their names and listen to their stories,” Aleksandra explains.
Obviously, SMILE is a club that has a positive impact on the residents’ lives, but it is more than simply a good cause. For everyone involved in the club’s activities, from the students to the elderly people that they interact with, it is a fun way to spend time with other people. It is no wonder that they chose the name that they did; from what these people told us, it is obvious that SMILE makes people smile!