Making Seniors Smile With Art

by Ruby Kate Chitsey

My name is Ruby Chitsey and I am the teen founder and CEO of a nonprofit that fulfills small wishes to nursing home seniors. There are 1.3 million seniors living in nursing homes in the U.S. and they need us now more than ever. Next time you think about doing a good deed for your community, I hope you’ll consider helping one of your local nursing homes.

Here is an easy way you can help a nursing home and the environment. Schools use a lot of paper. I’m sure you know that but did you know they used 32 BILLION sheets of paper in 2020? Yikes! A decent part of this paper can come from art class, especially elementary grades because they color and draw daily. Where does all the art end up? My parents try to keep my little brother’s art, but they can’t keep it all forever! I noticed a few summers ago that nursing home seniors kept the art papers they received from our volunteer students for over a year! The art meant so much to them. They taped it to their doors, walls and refrigerators and used it like a badge of honor to show the staff how much they were loved by these kids. They were just as proud of that art as my own parents are of my brother's art. These little things mean more than you will ever know to them.

In my community, I put baskets in the art classrooms and kindergarten classes. We accept their art papers throughout the year. It is a perfect way to upcycle art. Reach out to some teachers in your community and see if you can collect unwanted student art. Drop it off at any long-term care facility! It is something that anyone can use!"