Seneca Valley Students Spread Holiday Cheer to Retirees

With snowmen wreaths and doorknob decorations in hand, a group of seventh-graders from spread holiday cheer to residents of the in Zelienople.

The students, who are part of the Tigers academic team, spent close to an hour Thursday decorating the doors of about 120 patients. They also delivered gifts to be handed out on Christmas Day.

For student James Parry, the visit was as emotional as it was fun. Interacting with the residents reminded him of his own grandmother, who he said recently died.

“I thought it was touching,” he said. “It brought back the memories.”

Math teacher Ken Kotula, who accompanied the students to the home, said the Tigers volunteer throughout the year for community projects such as Thursday’s door decoration. The school has five academic teams all named after cats in the seventh grade.

The students got a kick out of spending time with the elderly residents, Kotula added.

“As much as the residents’ spirits were lifted, you could see the kids got something out of it too,” he said.

Nicole Wild said her fellow seventh-graders spent time last week creating the cards and crafting the wreaths and other door ornaments. Her favorite part of the day? Talking to the residents.

“I thought it was fun,” she said. “A lot of them were really happy and excited to see us.”

That includes 92-year-old Roland Robinson.

The former wedding photographer proudly displayed a snowman wreath made by the Tigers to decorate his walker. Alongside it was a beaded door ornament given to him last week by Portersville Christian School students. 

“It’s just wonderful,” he said of the visit. “You can’t beat kids.”