Potsdam Student Uses School Project to Help Area Senior Citizens

CANTON – Each year students in their sophomore and junior years at Potsdam High School are asked to complete a project that takes them outside of the district’s standard curriculum and helps them think about their role in the community.

This year for 20 Time Project, Potsdam Junior Breanna Buffham organized a donation drive for senior citizens at nursing homes across the county. Ms. Buffham collected candy, soaps, puzzles, word search books, small home décor items, blankets, slippers and other items to distribute amongst the seniors.

While Ms. Buffham could have ended her project there, she chose to take the project one step further, putting together a team of friends to visit and spend time with the residents at United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Canton.

“We have some very close family friends who have been in nursing homes, including one who was really close who lived right here,” she said. “Unfortunately, though, she passed away a few years ago.”

Many of the items Ms. Buffham collected were used for prizes during a morning session of bingo. Other items were left behind to be distributed to residents, as needed. One of the people who contributed to her efforts donated a large collection of jewelry, enough so that each woman who played bingo was able to select a necklace or bracelet to keep for themselves.

“I did something like this last year to help children with cancer,” Ms. Buffham said. “I wanted to do something similar, so this year I just switched the age group. It feels really good. It felt good to help kids last year and this year we’re seeing the other side of things.”

Nicole Euto is an 11^th grade English Teacher at Potsdam and she is one of three teachers who help oversee the students’ 20 Time projects. She accompanied Ms. Buffham and her friends on their trip to United Helpers.

“The kids come up with a lot of great ideas for projects,” she said. “A lot of the projects are within the school, so it’s nice to see a project with this level of community service involved.”

Upon arriving Ms. Buffham and her friends split into two groups. One group went to play bingo with residents in the memory care unit, while the second group played with residents in the skilled nursing wing.

Each group played several games of bingo with the residents while swapping stories and exchanging laughter. Students then helped the residents they sat with pick out prizes.

“Today was a great morning for our residents,” said Activities Leader Lauren Martinchek. “They love playing bingo and they love having visitors. Having the chance to win prizes was an added bonus. Many thanks to Breanna for putting this together.”

Breanna Buffham, a junior at Potsdam High School used this year’s 20 Time Project to help senior citizens in nursing homes across St. Lawrence County. Helping Ms. Buffham with the project was a team of friends. The group recently visited United Helpers Rehabilitation and Senior Care in Canton, spending some time with the residents, leading to laughter and smiles that spanned across the generations. Front row, from left, Sophia Manor, T’aja Burks, Ms. Buffham, Sofie Gagner, Bennette Estes; second row, Oscar Shaw, Emily Quinell, Erika Robinson, Brittney Gibson, Anna Rossner and Jeremiah Welsh.