A group of young teens spent Valentine鈥檚 Day spreading the love at two long term care facilities at 91原创 Memorial Hospital.
鈥淚 just thought it would be a great idea to get a bunch of us kids out there and just a way to spend time with them, especially on Valentine鈥檚 Day,鈥� said Anokhi Amaradasa, a R.E. Mountain Secondary School student.
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The 16-year-old along with nine other kids were representing a student-run club called Project Helping Hands when they visited residents at 91原创鈥檚 Marwood and Rosewood centres on Feb. 14.
鈥淚t was a surprise for them, they were really happy,鈥� said Amaradasa. 鈥淭hey loved it.鈥�
Ahead of the visit the club organized a Teddy Bear Drive after returning from winter break, where students collected nearly 130 stuffed animals to gift to residents at both centres.
鈥淭he teddy bears were an added touch to get our whole school involved,鈥� Amaradasa said.
Students brought cards, origami and stuffed animals, said Aletta Vanderheyden, a public affairs consultant with Fraser Health.
They also partnered with residents to paint garden-themed murals on the long-term care facility鈥檚 windows, she added.
鈥淰isits like these have a lasting impact on residents as some have few visitors,鈥� Vanderheyden said. 鈥漌ith their youthful spirit, students brought many smiles to the faces of our residents and really brighten their day and ours. Our residents really appreciate the visit and continue to reminisce about their time together days after.鈥�
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Amaradasa started volunteering with the hospital when she was 14. Since then, she has spent every Saturday organizing a weekly tea party for residents.
鈥淚 moved here from Sri Lanka when I was seven and both my grandparents are back there,鈥� Amaradasa said. 鈥淲hat initially made me volunteer with the hospice at the hospital was kind of a way to spend more time with the seniors there. I don鈥檛 really get to see my grandparents, so it was great to be able to help in this way.鈥�
Naturally, the Grade 11 student is considering a career in medicine.
鈥淢ed school is the goal,鈥� she said 鈥淚 really want to go into obstetrics and gynecology, that鈥檚 what I鈥檓 dreaming of doing 鈥� definitely medicine.鈥�
joti.grewal@blackpress.ca
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