Seniors helping seniors

KETTERING, Ohio (WDTN) - Seniors from Fairmont High School in Kettering had the option of sleeping in, but chose to hang out with residents of The Terraces like Hilda Wiggins.

Wiggins told 2 NEWS, " We love to have them. It's a wonderful school. Fairmont High School has a wonderful group of children and I'm proud of them."

Proud of them because they take the time to make jewelry, bake cookies, and put together puzzles with people who are at least three times their age.

Caroline Grogan explained why the "Seniors Helping Seniors" project means so much to her. "I have a grandmother at our house who stays with us who has dementia and I know how important it is for her to be with my family and hang out with so I know how important it is to have good interactions with younger kids," said Grogan.

Grogan is a senior at Fairmont. She along with more than 250 of her classmates spent some part of this week with senior citizens.  The "Seniors Helping Seniors" project is something about which Fairmont feels strongly.

Jenny Borchers is the Student Activities Director.  "Part of our goal at Fairmont High School is to become contributing citizens and what better way than for our students to get out in the community and give back," Borchers told 2 NEWS.

The students might occasionally talk about Facebook and Twitter, but they don't let social media get in the way of truly socializing.

The connections continue even when high school is over for the students. The seniors have been known to board buses and attend high school graduation ceremonies in support of those they've met and the young people come back to visit.

The "Seniors Helping Seniors" project receives grant money from the Community Foundation for Kettering and Partners for Healthy Youth.  The community outreach always occurs the same week the underclassmen at Fairmont take Ohio Graduation Tests.