LIMA — Lima Memorial Health System associates and a group of Ohio State-Lima students put smiles on the faces of senior citizens Tuesday when they passed out St. Valentine’s Day cards to residents at several Lima-area nursing homes.
OSU-Lima’s Education Club and Lima Memorial’s Associate Engagement Committee held separate events where they made and delivered hundreds of St. Valentine’s Day cards to the nursing home residents, who seemed appreciative of the gesture.
“It was very nice,” Lima Rehab and Nursing Center resident Lucille Bryan said with a smile. She received a St. Valentine’s Day card that read “Olive You,” which feature two olives holding hands.
At the Rehab Center, the delivery of handcrafted St. Valentine’s Day cards was accompanied by a musical presentation from the Lima Beane Chorus. Some 15 residents were on hand for the presentation, where Chorus members serenaded the group with love songs as the cards were distributed.
Cindy Kimmet, clinical liaison at the Lima Rehab and Nursing Center, said the residents enjoyed the company.
“They truly enjoy any time that visitors from the outside come in, especially when they bring in music and cards,” Kimmet said. “Many of our residents don’t have family that are in town or visit on a regular basis, so this gives those folks an opportunity to have visits.”
Sarah Sarka, chairperson of the Associate Engagement Committee, said the event helps Lima Memorial employees and volunteers get involved in the community, while giving local residents “a little extra love on Valentine’s Day.”
“I think giving those Valentine’s cards is a great opportunity to show them that somebody cares,” Sarka said.
At OSU-Lima, some 30 students made St. Valentine’s Day cards for residents at Luther Pines retirement room, which they delivered in person.
Melissa Martinez, secretary of OSU-Lima’s Education Club, said it was a way to “share our love from Ohio State to the nursing home.”
“We want to remind people that there’s always someone caring about them,” Martinez said. “Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love, so if we show love to our community, it grows.”
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