TODAY'S RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS: JACKSON STUDENTS READ TO ELDERLY

JACKSON -- It was fun to watch: Instead of grandma or grandpa reading stories to the young ones, Orchard Elementary School second-graders treated Jackson Manor residents to stories, pictures and candy.

After doing a skit about a horrible day, based on a book by Judith Voist, each student individually read their own story creations to a manor resident.

Their teacher, Denise McDowell, said the students put forth a lot of effort writing their mini-stories. "They enjoyed this project so much. They tried harder knowing they were doing it for someone else," McDowell said.

After writing their stories, the students read them for practice to first-grades at Orchard School.

McDowell said the idea to do a special project for the elderly came from Make a Difference Week last October. The students wanted to do something for Random Acts of Kindness Week, she said.

Along with the stories the students gave each resident a picture of flowers in a pot and "sweeten-up-your-day" haystack candy.

Manor resident Oprah Jaco said she enjoyed hearing student Jessica Coleman read her a story. "Her story was about how glad she was to be here," said Jaco. "The flower picture was cute, and she put it on my wall."

Luke Armbruster read his story to resident Iva Thorn, who said: "I enjoyed his story. I'm going to hang his picture in my room. It's very pretty."

This week is National Nursing Home Week.