The front walkway of Covington Christian Fellowship Church became 100 flowers prettier June 10, thanks to a group of Kent seniors and students working side by side in one “Labor of Love.”
Residents of Radcliffe Place Senior Apartments in Kent and special-needs students in the third-through-sixth grades at Meridian Elementary School gathered that day to plant flowers and enjoy the company of each other’s generation despite the cold, wet weather.
The event, called “Labor of Love,” was inspired by Kristiina Rauch, director of marketing at Radcliffe Place, whose 8-year-old daughter, Chloe, is in the special-needs class at Meridian. She said she wanted to get the two generations together somehow, and the pastor of Covington Christian welcomed the idea of the group sprucing up the church.
“I have a really big heart for kids with special needs, obviously. I have one of my own. And I work closely with all these seniors,” she said, choking up as she watched the event. “I just wanted to get these two generations I love so much together, and it turned out just how I pictured it, except for the rain.”
The smiles on students’ and seniors’ faces alike showed the participants were excited about the project as well. Each senior was paired up with a student, and they worked together to plant a number of flowers using a plastic bucket, shovel and gardening gloves provided by one of the event’s sponsors, Mt. Rainier Realty. Flowers were provided by Covington’s Buds & Blooms.
The students placed a popsicle-stick name tag next to the flowers they planted, many of them proudly pointing out their work to anyone who would listen.
“I think this builds up the kids’ self-esteem,” special-needs teacher Jill Gibbs-Dopel said. “These kids sometimes don’t feel like they can do things, but this helps them see that they really can contribute to the community.”
Radcliffe Place resident June Howard, 76, who was partnered with third-grader Corey Olsen, said she jumped at the chance to come work with the kids.
“I love kids, and I love flowers,” Howard said as Olsen filled in dirt around the base of a flower. “I have a special-needs great-granddaughter, and I think kids like this are just so special. They’re so precious.”
The seniors had packed lunch for the all the students at Radcliffe, and after the planting was finished, they all went inside to eat. Covington’s Cold Stone Creamery provided the dessert.
As sixth-grader Tanna Parker finished up planting her five flowers before lunch, she seemed happy to be involved.
“It’s kind of cool doing this, and it’s fun,” she said.
Her senior planting partner, 70-year-old John Wolf, said he was enjoying working with her as well, but when asked what he liked most about the event, he simply said:
“The ice cream.”
Contact Daniel Mooney at 253-437-6012 or dmooney@reporternewspapers.com.
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