Written by grade 5 and 6 TGOI students: C’Jae Harrigan, Odarie Hill, Jovoncia Proctor and Ameka Richardson.

Have you ever thought of giving back to the community? At Teacher Gloria Omololu Institute (T.G.O.I) we do just that. On the 11th and 12th of February, 2009 grades 3 through 6 had an experience of a lifetime. This experience started at Veya Restaurant and ended at Tender Love & Care Nursing Home.

Chef Carrie instructing students

At Veya, we made chocolate truffles for the elderly under the guidance of the owners of the restaurant, Jerry and Carrie Bogar. The first step was to roll the chocolate into balls, the second step was to sprinkle different toppings on the balls such as nuts, coconut, ovaltine, malt and cocoa. The last step was to put the balls into bags which we would take to the elderly. At the end of the session, we were able to enjoy chocolate ourselves and interview Chef Carrie. While we were eating our reward we were allowed to ask Chef Carrie questions. Our favorite question was, “how do you feel about community service?” She replied, “It’s always good to know that young children are giving back to the community.” We loved the idea of making truffles for the elderly knowing that it would make both us and the elderly feel happy. We are very thankful to the Bogars for opening up their kitchen and their hearts to us and the elderly.

The next day, we visited Tender Love & Care Nursing Home where Nurse Brenda Hodge, the owner of the facility, welcomed us. There were 23 elderly people at the nursing home for whom we performed. We gave them Valentine’s Day cards that were made by our kindergarten students. We provided them treats, such as apples, bananas, pears, plums, peaches and the truffles we made at Veya Restaurant. Their biggest treats were the songs we sang: ‘Take A Grip’, ‘I Am A Promise’, ‘Love In Any Language’, ‘If You’re Happy And You Know It’ and “Psalms 100.”

Those of us who did not visit the nursing home in December were a bit scared of

Mr. & Mrs Bogar (back) with students and Teacher at Veya

visiting the nursing home since they had not had any prior experience visiting the elderly. Their fear vanished and love took its place. The third and fourth grade teacher, Racquel Graham, when asked what was her experience in visiting the elderly, replied “I had a remarkable time, the senior citizens enjoyed our performance and were delighted that we took the time to express our love and appreciation for them”. Kasseim Patterson when asked how he felt now that he has made the elderly feel good, he answered “I feel a sense of commitment.”

Visiting the elderly will continue to be an ongoing community service effort by the older students of the school. It doesn’t take much to give back; it just takes a willingness to open one’s heart to another. Even our kindergarteners are beginning to understand what it means to give back when they make their cards for the elderly. If we could change the lives of so many people and also ourselves by a simple act, then we should all visit the elderly. If we don’t, then who will?

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