Holiday cheer from PossAbilities
[anvplayer video=”5150955″ station=”998128″]
(ABC 6 News) – In the spirit of giving, Rochester’s PossAbilities spread holiday cheer Friday morning by passing out hand-made holiday cards to residents at Edenbrook Rochester nursing home.
The holiday project took a few weeks, but all of the participants at PossAbilities say it was worth it to see all of the smiling faces at Edenbrook.
Friday, individuals passed out 50 creative, hand-made cards.
“Not everyone gets holiday cards, not everyone has family that is able to visit,” explained Sarah Storandt, the program director at PossAbilities. “To be able to give back to the community and put a smile on their faces is something that we really wanted to do.”
The participants smiles were just as big as the residents.
In the spirit of giving, Rochester's PossAbilities spread holiday cheer Friday morning by passing out hand-made holiday cards to residents at Edenbrook Rochester nursing home.
When Aofie O’Reilly was asked what her favorite part was, she could not name just one.
“Writing the messages and singing Holly Jolly Christmas, or happy Christmas, or something like writing on the cards,” O’Reilly said.
O’Reilly used to volunteer at Edenbrook, and was happy to be reunited with old friends. She was not the only one to see a familiar face.
Joseph Gunnison, a resident at Edenbrook, is a retired special education teacher at Mayo High School. Friday, he saw his former students, all grown up.
“It was really nice and it was nice that they remembered me. It goes both ways of course,” added Gunnison. “It’s kind of nice to see how they’ve grown up and what they’re doing.”
After holiday cards were handed out, everyone sat down to decorate Christmas cookies.
Residents at Edenbrook say the surprise visit was appreciated and it brightened everyone’s day.
“It does, it adds a lot…it really does,” Gunnison said.
The participants with PossAbilities are not done spreading holiday cheer just yet.
“I’m making three more [cards] when I get home,” Ben Murray, a PossAbilities participant, said.
For many, it is just about making sure no one is forgotten this holiday season.
“I just want to wish everyone a happy holidays,” O’Reilly added.
Next week, PossAbilities is handing out 100 cards to Riverbend retirement home. While it is a busy time of year for the participants at PossAbilities, they are happy to do it.