By Norma Dittman
Fulda Free Press staff writer
Fulda Elementary School Buddy Up students and Maple Lawn Senior Care residents joined together on Thursday afternoon to pack 25 boxes for Operation Christmas Child.
The fifth grade students arrived shortly before 2 p.m. and, together with the residents, watched a short video about how Operation Christmas Child boxes benefit children in other countries. Then the students went into the dining room to learn from volunteer Connie Haberman how to fold the shoe box sized boxes. Once the boxes were folded, the students were asked to line up to pass through the circle of residents to receive the items that were included in the boxes. Items included a small toy and school items, as well as some personal care items. When the boxes were filled, students were asked to fold the lid over, place a rubber band around it and mark whether the box should go to a girl or boy.
Then it was time for the students and residents to have some Buddy Up time. The students paired off with their Maple Lawn Care Center buddy to do a worksheet that told a little bit about themselves to the children. As they worked on their worksheets, there was a lot of visiting that was happening with the students telling residents about their school day and about their plans for the Thanksgiving holiday.
Each year, Maple Lawn Senior Care Activities Director, Annette Kremer, and staff members make arrangements to prepare Operation Christmas Child boxes. Operation Christmas Child is a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, which is a non-denominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet needs of people who victims or war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine. The organization serves people world-wide in its efforts to promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Buddy Up students and Maple Lawn residents meet together one time per month during the school year, getting to know one another and working on projects together.
