The SUNY Maritime College Cultural Club visits local nursing homes a few times during the year. Students always go a few days before Valentine’s Day and Thanksgiving to spread love, and to bring some laughter and joy to the residents. The residents are always so happy to see the students.
In February, the students visited the Throggs Neck Rehabilitation Nursing Home in the Bronx and brought some of the residents stuffed animals for Valentine’s Day. The residents give the students great advice and they listen to their life stories. The students also play games with the residents and take pictures with them. The pictures are always enlarged and framed and taken back to the residents after each visit. One resident was 101 years old and he said that he would cherish his picture until he died.
Another resident was just brought in the day of the club’s visit and she had her leg amputated—she was crying and didn’t want to live like that. But what was so amazing was how the students were so compassionate towards her. They gave her teddy bears and reassured her that she would be okay. They wiped her tears away and one young lady braided her hair. This resident received so many hugs and kisses from the students that her tears were joyful ones. The students had her smiling and she thanked them for cheering her up.
