“We love Wednesdays,” Yoder said. “Our kids absolutely love it and from what I can see, the residents love it, too. It’s so fun to get together and they get so excited.”

This Wednesday, however, instead of the bus going from Friendship Haven to Cooper, it went from Cooper to Friendship Haven as the students visited the campus. The two third grade classes learned about occupations at Friendship Haven and took a tour of the campus before meeting up with some old and new friends for bingo in the Celebration Center.

Third-grader Noey Sankey was excited to visit the Friendship Haven residents on Wednesday.

“It’s fun to get to see them,” she said.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Cooper third-grader Jayda Seca alerts the bingo caller that she and Friendship Haven resident Millicent Thies got a bingo on Wednesday morning.

Her favorite thing to do with her Friendship Haven friends is playing bingo, so that made the visit that much more exciting.

This partnership between Friendship Haven and the Cooper third grade classes started about nine months ago, Kenzie Hawley, assisted living activities coordinator at Friendship Haven, said. Hawley said she reached out to a counselor at Cooper and together they brainstormed ways they could work together. Ultimately, having residents from Friendship Haven visit the students at the school to read, play games and just spend time together is what they decided to do.

“It’s been absolutely amazing seeing the relationships that grow,” Hawley said. “The residents are in a better mood, happier when we go to Cooper.”

There are about 15 residents who visit the school and “they just love it,” according to Sarina Chhouy, activities assistant.

“One of my residents says it just reminds him of being little when he sees the kids and he’s like, ‘I wish I was that little again,'” she said. “I just love seeing residents happy and smiling and enjoying their time with them. The best part of doing our outings is seeing them happy and smiling and that just makes me feel good.”

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Friendship Haven resident Donna Pearson and Cooper third-grader Logan Simon check to see if they have the number just called during bingo at the Celebration Center on Wednesday morning.

The visits to the school have been less frequent lately because of the winter weather, Hawley said.

“Unfortunately, since it’s been so cold out, we haven’t been able to see them as much as we would like to, so today is a huge thing for them, especially for them coming to us for a change,” she said.

The connections formed between the residents and her students and seeing how those connections impact the students is what Yoder enjoys the most.

“Some kids that maybe might not be as strong readers, they get really proud when they get to read to the residents and vice versa,” she said.. “It just makes the kids feel good inside and it shows.”

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Alivia Humphrey checks her bingo card during a game at Friendship Haven's Celebration Center on Wednesday morning.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Cooper third-grader Jeremias Trevino reads off his bingo numbers while playing a round on bingo with residents at Friendship Haven on Wednesday morning.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Cooper third-grader Malia Yeoman checks to see if Friendship Haven resident Catherine Odor has a bingo yet on Wednesday morning.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Cooper third-grader Ariel Wilhelmi listens to the numbers being called during a game of bingo at Friendship Haven's Celebration Center on Wednesday morning.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Friendship Haven residents enjoyed playing bingo with third-graders from Cooper Elementary School on Wednesday morning.

-Messenger photo by Kelby Wingert
Cooper third-grader Nolan Waynar and Friendship Haven resident Karen Brokaw teamed up during a game of bingo at the Celebration Center on Wednesday morning.