Opportunity Village and seniors hold soir

Residents at Concord Retirement and Assisted Living recently reached out to clients of Opportunity Village and gave them some holiday cheer. What they got in return was a party that turned into a singing and dancing soirée.

Rebekah Morse, activities director for Concord, 2465 E. Twain Ave., came up with the idea for her seniors and Opportunity Village's young people to come together for a shared experience. The event, which took place Dec. 16, has since become a seasonal tradition.

"It's called Hands Across the Season," Morse said. "I have a volunteer who is a teacher at Opportunity Village, and in May we started to come up with ideas how to bring Opportunity Village and Concord together. It's joining hands through the four seasons of time and the seasons of life."

For months residents helped plan the social event, which featured gift-giving from the residents to the Opportunity Village guests and offered refreshments and music. Leftover gifts were taken back to Opportunity Village and given to those who couldn't make the party.

Morse said there wasn't a dry eye in the room as the staff watched how the two groups responded to each other and celebrated life.

"It was a social. People danced and sang," she said. "It was such a rewarding feeling to see people from Opportunity Village and the seniors, who bought gifts for each of the people. It was almost like grandparents adopting them. It really lets you know what the season is all about."

Entertainment was provided by Denis Curtin, a performer at the New York-New York, who sang Christmas songs as well as rock 'n' roll classics. Morse said even some seniors got out of their seats to dance.

"They gave back with their energy and delight," she said. "It was such a sharing of community love, for people at the opposite end of the spectrum. All the staff came in and danced. It was a bigger social than we intended to do. I'm looking forward to the one this spring."


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