Kids help out at GEM
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KIDS FROM IMPACT, a summer missions group from various Dare churches, helped out at GEM Adult Day Services during the week beginning June 30. Part of the group, shown here, are (front, from left) Claire Thomas, Kestral Welch, Samuel Beacham, John Welch and (back, from left) Mack Doebler and Andrew Grant.
MORE IMPACT FOLKS joined GEM participants last week, making friends and helping the adults with dementia who are the GEM clients. Taking part (some not shown) were Impact leader Sandy Moore, youth Ashley Walker, Owen Spalding, Drew Scott, GEM client Wanda ”Umpy” Cox, GEM worker Olivia Gray, GEM client Charlotte Horton, Kelsey Grigg, Claire Carson,Reed Lawson,Matthew Kiousis, Lisa Brickhouse and GEM client Charlotte Horton, as well as GEM executive director Gail Sonnesso.
Youth connect with older folks at GEM
A group of about 12 youth from various churches took part in a program known as Impact last week, serving as volunteers for various charities such as Hotline, social services, YMCA, the aquarium and GEM Adult Day Services (shown above).
AT GEM, they learned about dementia, making friends with and helping the clients.
They gathered at Nags Head Church each morning for a time of worship to begin their day, then branched out in groups to their various ministries. There were about 120 children working in groups of 12 each, each group with two leaders.
They all enjoyed their experience. Ashley Walls said one of the important aspects of the Impact week was ”reaching out to the community.” Owen Spalding said it was ”fun helping out in the community,” and discovering that you don’t have to go to a foreign land to be of service. ”I think it’s a good way for me to connect with my peers and the community, to help the community and give back.”
Sonnesso said the young people had really connected with her clients, and she hopes they will come back during the school year to volunteer. In their churches, they will probably do things like make craft packets with enough materials for GEM clients to make one item each. She said anyone can help at GEM by making a crock pot meal and bringing it to the center located on Mustian Street in Kill Devil Hills, just across from the Baum Center,. They can make a pasta dish, some spaghetti sauce or bring other goodies. “They have no dietary restrictions,” Sonnesso said of her participants.