Behind the door of room 107, something more than essays and grammar lessons is taking place. The seniors in Composition II are working on final projects that go beyond traditional writing assignments. Each student is exploring a unique topic or passion that they have and turning it into something that helps or inspires change within the community for the better.
Seniors Madison Burns and Megan Miller are focusing their project on helping the elderly population in Gretna. At first, they had wanted to provide free haircuts to senior citizens.
“We both did CNA class, and we did our clinicals at The Willows, and so we kind of saw like the state of the place,” Burns said. “A lot of the people there are on Medicaid and can’t afford to get their hair cut, so we wanted to do this for them.”
Originally, they planned to bring two to three volunteer hairstylists to The Willows and offer free haircuts. But as the projects developed, they realized they had to shift it away from bringing in barbers and hairstylists due to a lack of response from both the facility and possible volunteers.
The popular saying “look good, feel good,” takes on a new meaning, especially in senior living homes. When they feel good about themselves, it boosts their self-esteem and makes their days so much better. The pair’s plan now is to provide self-care packages that would include lotion, soap, combs, nail polish and more. Miller and Burns also said they want to write each resident a personal letter and place it in the bags. They will need to create about 50 packages for the residents.
“(Our goal is) to spread awareness about people on Medicaid and how difficult it is to get the things they need, because they have such a limited amount that they can spend,” Burns said.
Additionally, Lauren Bryant is working on a project that she hopes will be very impactful. She is collecting dresses, accessories, suits, ties and shoes for students who can not afford to buy them for school dances.
“I know I never wore my prom dress again, it is just sitting in the back of my closet, so I was like, I wish I could do something about it,” Bryant said. “I always donate my clothes, especially with college coming up. I have like no space in my closet anymore, so I was thinking about how I need to donate a bunch of my clothes, and I was thinking well maybe I could donate them not to just like Goodwill, but I could resell them and give them to someone who actually needs them, because anyone could go thrifting and buy anything, but then we know its like actually going to a cause.”
Bryant plans to bring the collected items to Cedar Hollow, and she will make a mini boutique for students to shop from.
Last Friday, Bryant had a table set up by the office accepting all donations. She will have her table set up again on the morning of April 16, from 7:20 until 8 a.m. and during AEP. In return for any donated item, she handed out Alani energy drinks to encourage people to participate.
“It won’t make a difference this year since prom is already so close, but I just hope that next year, girls can get dresses and not have to worry about expenses,” Bryant said prior to the dance. “And, like, girls who can’t afford a dress and don’t go but want to go, but they can’t afford to go, can go.”
Another example is student MaryJane Fletcher, who is focusing her project on assembling and donating first aid kits to those in need and handing them out at Abide or a local homeless shelter.
“My mom runs a nonprofit called Cornerstone Nonprofit Health Care, where she gives healthcare to refugees in North Omaha, and one of the things she does is health fairs, and sometimes in her health fairs, she’ll make first aid kits and then give them out for free there,” Fletcher said. “I was inspired by what she does.”
Fletcher is currently raising funds to support her goal. Each kit costs around $10, and she plans to make 50 kits total. She’s using the website, Buy Me a Coffee, to advertise her idea and to raise money.
Once she has enough, she will purchase all the supplies for the kits in bulk and package them herself to hand them out. With the help of her mom, a medical professional, she is making sure each kit contains the most beneficial essentials.
“My end goal is to give out 50 first aid kits to people who need them,” Fletcher said. “I’d like to give them out at Abide in North Omaha, because I go to Love Church in North Omaha, which is in the Abide building, so me and my mom are probably going to talk to the director of the Church, because we know him and he’s not scary, and see if he is willing to get us in touch with whoever we need to be in touch with.”
