Volunteers celebrate Adopt a Grandparents Day along the Coast

It was a happy Grandparent’s Day to all the grandparents here on the Coast. Every family shares their own traditions so naturally ways to celebrate this day vary.

Some senior citizens have no one to share the day with. Volunteers along the Coast help some seniors feel included.

Andy Bitali, a resident at the Seashore Highlands, is one of the many seniors who does not get a lot of visitors. “I’m from New York. I’m a grandfather and great grandfather. Seven. Never saw them because they live in California and I live here.”

Dorothy Turner and volunteers from Sacred Heart Elementary Catholic School changed that by showing love and appreciation towards the seniors for Adopt a Grandparent Day. Turner said, “We have some beach ball volleyball to play with the seniors here at the center. We also have a nice banner that we want all the kids and all the seniors to sign. We have some other little games with prizes and everything. We have gift bags to go to each and every one of the residents here at the center.”

After two years, this is the first year back for the event residents will have one-on-one interaction in the nursing homes due to COVID. “I hope they really enjoy themselves and know we are in it for the long haul. We just took on Grandparent’s Day, but we would like to do more things later in the upcoming future with the seniors here. Depression is real and that way they won’t feel depressed being alone. They have a lot more people out there to love them.”

The Adopt a Grandparent event took place in 42 nursing homes along the Gulf Coast. This is an annual event and they plan to do it at the same time next year.