A New Home

Founded in 1990 and with its lease up for renewal, the Rocori Senior Center began searching for a new home. The Center found that home in an unusual setting: a shared space with the Rocori Middle School in Cold Spring. The allocation of physical space for a senior center by the Rocori School District was important, but even more so was the commitment of the School Board to lifelong learning for all of its citizens. This arrangement provides a unique opportunity for shared activities through an Intergenerational Program created especially for the seniors and the middle school students.

Intergenerational Program

“I feel it is difficult enough for 7th and 8th grade students growing up during these turbulent times. Anything we can do to help them to be responsible adults will have a positive ending. The Intergenerational Program allows us this opportunity,” says Georgia Zimmerman, a participating senior. The program’s activities are guided by an intergenerational committee that meets monthly. Activities are diverse and include:

• Rocori Rockers (an intergenerational choir)
• career days
• tutoring
• Knowledge Bowl
• Games Day
• oral history
• pumpkin carving
• cookie baking
• the SAINT project

The SAINT Program

For the SAINT (Senior And Intergenerational Next-to-new Toy) project, seniors and students team up to make toys and restore bicycles each holiday season which are then distributed to families in need. “It’s a great project and it helps the community,” says Matthew Willenbring, a middle school student. When finished, the toys are gathered and combined with food donations, which are then delivered to the needy just before Christmas.

“You can imagine in your head the smiles on their faces,” continues the 13-year old of the children that will be thrilled with their gifts. Approximately “85 low-income families are referred to the program by local churches and individuals,” adds Mark Grelson, Rocori’s community education director. The program has had a significant impact on the community by bringing young and old together working side-by-side for a common goal.

Bridging the Gap Between Young and Old

The center’s director is under the supervision of the Community Education Department and is considered an employee of Rocori Area Schools. The part-time position is funded through senior volunteers working as educational assistants in the school’s media center. Working in the media center allows the generations to get know each other the best. According to Ag Steil, one of the volunteers, “That’s what makes the job most rewarding.”

Another senior volunteer, Georgia Zimmerman, agrees, saying that “a mother of a 7th grade boy told…[her] that since her son was at the Middle School and had contact with older people on a daily basis, his rapport with his grandparents had improved.” Georgia feels it definitely had something to do with the senior volunteers at the Middle School Media Center. The students often feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings with an older adult who takes the time to listen. “During these times, I feel very good that they are able to open up to me. I may not have the answers they want, but I can tell by their responses that they feel better just by talking,” says Georgia.

Bridging the generation gap is a valuable lesson that can’t necessarily be taught through textbooks. The community was looking for ways to get the elderly and its youth working together. “We all learn that seniors have something to offer us and we have something to offer them,” says Joyce Phillips-Kunkel, a Cold Spring resident who encouraged the bank she worked for to sponsor the SAINT program.

Kayla Bell, a middle school student, proclaims the program “awesome” as well as “rewarding” and “good for self-esteem.” Having the seniors located within the school offers the age groups numerous opportunities to mingle and learn from each other. “It brings out the best in both age groups,” adds school counselor, Tom McMahon.

Forging Friendships

Relating oral history from older generation to younger allows the seniors to share and impart their wisdom and life experience. As a result, strong friendships have been forged between the old and the young. Katelyn Dodd, a student volunteer says, “Its fun to volunteer…and know that you are helping someone.” Georgia Zimmerman, an active senior in the program, puts it this way: “The friendships with these students has given me more that I ever dreamed possible and my life has…been enriched beyond belief.”