Seniors, students join forces to help Lazarus House

There's a reason we often see stories in newspapers or clips on television about young people presenting programs or visiting with the elderly in nursing or memory care facilities at this time of year.

It provides a great benefit for all involved. Those receiving medical attention feel a sense of caring and love, and the kids learn about what it means to bring joy to someone else.

And it's not always just at this time of year, though it is more prevalent during the holidays.

It was all on display last week when fourth-grade students from Williamsburg Elementary and residents of Arden Courts memory care center in Geneva got together for the annual tradition of creating "Blessing Bags" to donate to the Lazarus House shelter in St. Charles.

"There are therapeutic benefits to these programs, and it is a huge significance that children are able to create a smile, laugh or kind gesture," said Justine Villaruzi, marketing director at Arden Courts. "From my experience in working with individuals with memory loss, I have seen a huge impact from children working with our residents."

While helping the children put gifts in the bags, the residents always seem to be "more engaged, relaxed and overall happy," Villaruzi added.

One of the residents watching the students fill bags was "smiling in bliss," Villaruzi said. "I asked her if this reminded her of when she was a teacher's assistant and the woman said 'yes, and they were wonderful just like these kids.'"

It really does carry the spirit of the season when an exchange like this is created between the young and elderly to benefit people they may never meet or know.

Dorie Arnold, program services coordinator at Arden Courts, shared something she overheard as the program was wrapping up for the day.

A student leaving said, "That was so great, and I am so happy we did this."

Arnold put that type of feedback into perspective.

"It is wonderful to watch generations of elders and young children alike team up to work toward a common goal," she said. "Giving back to the community and aiding those less fortunate than ourselves is an act of compassion that both generations can understand and appreciate."

Moving that house:

Passers-by may have been wondering what was going on with the house at 122 E. State St. in Geneva when it was suddenly on wheels.

The city council last month approved its moving to 822 East Side Drive. The mover is hoping to make the move in early January, likely on a Tuesday morning. If all goes well, it shouldn't take long to make the move, and at least one westbound lane of State Street will be open to traffic.

That house was near the Dunkin' Donuts project on East State Street and Crissey Avenue. Though that project may seem delayed because city planners and aldermen have discussed it since summer, it did get final city approval last month and should be moving along as planned over the coming months.

While city officials were wise to make sure everyone involved in this project understood traffic and turn patterns at that site could be problematic, it's hard to say for sure if the doughnut shop would draw any more customers than we had previously at that spot with a gas station and convenience store. But that quick cup of coffee from a drive-through makes a difference, as anyone can see at any Starbucks or Dunkin drive-throughs in the mornings.

With that in mind, anything that can be done to make left-turns in and out of the new Dunkin site safer in the future would be welcome.

Paul's warm welcome:

When starting a new job in a new community, you need a few people to take you under their wings to guide you over the terrain.

Paul Bergeson played that role for me in 1978 when I became a sports editor in St. Charles. He was the athletic director at St. Charles High School and seemed quite pleased when he knew my intention was to cover his boys and girls teams more completely than he had ever seen.

And his help and cooperation made that possible.

It was sad to get a note from his son, Dave Bergeson, that Paul passed away in Florida this week.

Many athletic directors and coaches helped me during my tenure on the sports desk, and many of them did it in a professional, businesslike manner.

Not Paul. He did it like we had been best friends for years. It didn't take long to realize he treated everyone that way. And that sort of thing, well, you never forget it.

Delnor's helping hand:

Organizers of TriCity Family Service's annual Adopt a Family program to obtain Christmas gifts and food for the agency's clients were pleased to see Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital reveal it would support 13 families.

"This is an extraordinary number," said organizer Joanne Spitz. "Many different departments in the entire hospital are involved."

The program, which helps up to 70 or more families, has long counted on individuals and businesses to show big hearts at this time of year.

Aldi provides numerous gifts and food items in adopting five families, and the DHJJ accounting firm for the agency adopts four families.

The program doesn't get off the ground without numerous supporters like that, and the work of volunteers and agency employees who accept and organize the donations for families to pick up.

Still time for toys:

The late Jim Wheeler was always busy at this time of year, even though his beloved Pottawatomie Golf Course, where he served as the professional, was most often closed for the season as winter set in.

He was a tremendous promoter and leader for the Toys for Kids program that takes place for the Salvation Army. The program has stayed alive through the work of other volunteers. As such, I've made a point to drop off new toys at the golf course each year during the drive.

The community drop-off sites have completed their task this year, but anyone wanting to make a donation, bring some toys or inform the Salvation Army of a family in need can still do so. They can contact Tri-City Salvation Army Captain Betsy Clark and drop off items at the community center in St. Charles over the next couple of days.

The Tri-City Corps Joe K. Anderson Community Center is at 1710 S. Seventh Ave. in St. Charles.

dheun@sbcglobal.net