For 36 years, students at Willard Elementary School have welcomed senior citizens to a morning of performances, food and community.
“It’s fabulous,” said Teresa Castillo, 92. “I don’t really leave the building to do things, but this I cannot miss. It might be my last one.”
Castillo, who lives at the Victory Center of River Woods in Melrose Park, has been coming to the event for the past 10 years. As someone who is homebound, Castillo said she looks forward to the yearly event and tries to not miss it.
“They are really attentive, and sometimes we don’t feel like we deserve that anymore,” Castillo said. “They are gentile, they are beautiful, everyone. The children, the teachers. The way they treat us is fabulous.”
That is the goal of Big Hearts, Little Hands: to create a space where seniors in the community feel welcomed and loved. Created by PTO member Madonna Weldon in 1988 as a way for older generations to engage with the younger, the event has continued to grow, becoming one of the most highly-anticipated one of each year.
Rachel Dardis, chair of the Big Hearts, Little Hands PTO committee, said students invite the senior citizens in their lives to the event, but the real treasure is seeing residents from local senior-living communities, as well as those who don’t have direct ties to Willard students.
“Their grandchildren live far away, or they don’t have grandchildren or they don’t get out much and see this kind of stuff often,” Dardis said. “That is what it is for as well. It’s giving back to the community.”
Most students played a role. Third graders served as greeters and helped serve the food during tea time. First and fourth graders performed songs, while kindergarten students and fifth graders helped with decorations.
Corinne Woltman, a third grader, said her teacher talked with students about how to make the seniors feel welcomed.
“It’s about helping people have joy in their life,” Corinne said. “Now that they are older, they aren’t around people as much.”
This year, residents from Victory Center of River Woods in Melrose Park, Brookdale Oak Park, Oak Park Oasis and Oak Park Arms Senior Living Community attended. There were more than 120 RSVP’s, Dardis said.
Diane Wood, principal at Willard, said the event is a success because of the “beautiful intergenerational connections” it promotes.
“Today families are often spread out so this is a lovely way for children to connect with neighbors, friends, and the visitors that come to us from the senior centers,” Wood said. “The children get that service-learning opportunity for them to give back and do something lovely for someone else. They feel a great deal of pride and excitement.”
AB Williams, 76, attended the event for the first time.
“I loved the singing and everything,” Williams said. “It was wonderful. It’s important to have everyone come together and thank God we can come together.”
