Article by Rebecca Benintendi, Class of 2016
On October 31, 2013, members of Freshman/Sophomore C.R.O.S.S. got together to visit the Sunrise and Bristal on Halloween. These students sacrificed a small part of their Halloweens so that they could help brighten these people’s holidays and make their day a little brighter.
The Bristal and Sunrise are assisted living homes in which people with both physical and mental handicaps live, cared for by their wonderful nurses and assistants. They are both within a short walking distance from Kellenberg and were easy for the students to get to from Kellenberg. C.R.O.S.S. makes these visitations each week as part of their ministry. On Halloween, it was slighty different! The students who attended dressed up in fun costumes of every kind ranging from sorcerers to cats to superheroes. Once the students arrived, they spent time talking to the residents about their families and their lives. They also chatted with them about some past Halloween experiences and what Halloween was like when they were kids. We snacked on festive cupcakes and “dirt cake” with the residents, too. Towards the end of the visit, C.R.O.S.S. performed a few songs for the residents that they had learned with Mrs. Zider in Music 9, including a favorite, “I Lift My Hands” by Chris Tomlin, which is the theme for this year’s Freshman/Sophomore C.R.O.S.S.
Overall, the visit to the Bristal and Sunrise was a fun experience for both the residents and the members of C.R.O.S.S. It was really rewarding to spend time with the residents and get to know them. They were such nice, welcoming people whose enthusiasm throughout the entire visit made the experience even better. We were there to give the residents some fun and excitement, but I think it was the Kellenberg students who left with even a bigger smile of their faces.