BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) - Since the abundance of snowfall left local Beatrice Public School students with a day off and some extra time on their hands, groups of kids decided to help their neighbors while also having some winter fun.
Snowmen of various shapes and sizes are being created outside the windows of Beatrice Health and Rehabilitation for the residents to enjoy and see some friendly faces, from the snowmen and kids alike.
Kailey Mustin, activities director for Beatrice Health and Rehab, said the idea came when a resident recalled building snowmen with her kids and bringing them hot chocolate. Of course, for their efforts, the kids were brought hot chocolate, too.
“For almost a year now, since last March, we haven’t been able to have visitors in our building, and most of our residents haven’t been able to go out, even to appointments…They miss things like grandkids, they miss their families, and these kids doing this right outside their window, it makes them feel like their kids are here,” Mustin told the Beatrice Daily Sun.
In some cases, kids were making snowmen just to have fun and be kind to the residents. In other cases, it was an opportunity to safely spend time with loved ones.
Dennis Lyons said he saw a post about the snowmen online, and decided to bring his kids, Mason Lyons and Delaina Weinman, to visit their grandfather, Dennis Luckey, who is a resident. Lyons’ mother and Luckey’s wife, Ida Mae Lucky, passed away in December due to COVID-19.
“We just thought it would be a nice gesture to brighten his day,” Lyons said. “We talk to him on the phone, and he likes to have snacks brought to him. We bring him Mountain Dew and cookies, and the kids will wave at him through the windows.”
Mustin said in some cases, family members have come out to build snowmen for their loved ones, while others are doing it simply to have fun and be kind. She said kids have ranged from toddlers to teenagers, and that she didn’t think the response would be as big as it has been.
“All of the residents are watching out the window,” Mustin said. “It’s great right now, because we have groups doing it at both dining rooms, so while they eat they are able to watch little kids build their snowmen, and we had a little snowball fight. It was really nice.”
“I just think that it’s a great thing that Beatrice Health and Rehab is encouraging,” Lyons said. “They do a lot of good stuff for their residents, and it’s a good way to connect the kids with their grandparents, or just connect families together.”
Mustin said while the original idea was to build snowmen for the day, Beatrice Health and Rehab will continue giving kids hot chocolate for building them until the snow melts. She said they’re all turning out wonderful, and thanked the community for their participation, as well as the Health and Rehab staff for their help and keeping residents safe.
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