By Allen Herald & Sean Drennan Editor in Chief – Managing Editor
The NTCC College Store’s longstanding tradition of providing local nursing home residents with Valentine’s Day cards was underway last week. With the goal of reaching three different nursing homes and crafting over one hundred cards, the practice has endured for many years, even surviving the COVID-19 pandemic. The tradition allows students and staff an opportunity to connect with older members of the community who might otherwise go without recognition during the holiday of love.
PTK crafting cards during their weekly meeting
NTCC College Store Director Naomi Taylor Sanford began the initiative in 2017, explaining that elderly communities are often overlooked this time of year. “Valentine’s Day is not just for showing love for a significant other, it’s for showing love to everyone,” said Sanford, “I don’t like the thought of that, because they are important. I wanted to show them that we are thinking of them and that we do still love them.” Students delivered cards to three area nursing homes this year including Omaha’s “Indigo Assisted,” Pittsburg’s “Southern Wind” and Mount Pleasant’s “The Lodge.”
The College Store established a crafting table in the Student Union Building where anyone on campus could participate by making their own cards. “It gets our students out into the community, and it allows the community to feel like [NTCC] is not just for the students,” College Store Specialist Alecia Harvey-Peace said. “It’s outreach for us.”
Phi Theta Kappa members assisted in the outreach efforts, dedicating their entire Monday meeting last week to the creation of Valentine’s Day cards, an assembly line of scissors, glue sticks and glitter. Dr. Melissa Fulgham, PTK adviser and professor of history, said this type of activity gives PTK students an opportunity to develop new connections within their community. “Everybody in the world should be valued and appreciated,” Fulgham said. “It’s the little things that make us human, that connect us.” PTK member Jose Fuentes recalled the enjoyment he felt when he took part in volunteer work in the past. “I did similar community service in high school and to do something like that now is pretty nice.” Skylar Hodson, Vice President of Fellowship for PTK, who personally delivered the letters to the nursing home in Mount Pleasant with two other PTK members, echoed Fuentes’ sentiment. “Spreading kindness is the most important part.”