AGE IS NO BARRIER FOR VOLUNTEERS

Smiles, laughter and a bunch of cupcakes were shared Tuesday when a group from the Cape Girardeau Senior Center visited their neighbors at the Christian School for the Young Years.

Senior Center volunteers baked cupcakes for the preschoolers in honor of Random Acts of Kindness Week, but the two groups often visit each other with such presents in hand. Preschoolers often walk the short distance to the Senior Center to model Halloween costumes, sing holiday songs and deliver other presents. In turn, older adults bring baked goodies and other treats for the youngsters to enjoy.

Juanita Moore said she enjoys visiting with the children because they remind her of her three grown grandsons. "It's always enjoyable," she said. "I don't know any of them, but I can see they've got happy faces, and they seem to be enjoying the cupcakes."

Preschool teacher Donna Renick said the visits are special because they give the children a chance to be around grandparent figures. Families today don't get to visit with older relatives as they did years ago, and any opportunity to interact with a different age group is important, she said.