By LUKE SMUCKER

Recorder News Staff

Students from William H. Barkley Elementary school visited The Wilkinson Center in Amsterdam Thursday to spend some time with the elderly residents there, as part of the school's "adopt-a-grandparent" program. The students helped the residents prepare lunch, play games and make crafts. Thursday's meeting marked the 20th-year anniversary of the event that was started by Sue Hinton, a retired fourth-grade Barkley teacher who, 20 years ago, was researching a place for her father-in-law to come.

Current third-grade teacher Cathy Hard, brings her students once a month to visit the residents. With the help of Connie Hoyer, who is now retired but has taught at Barkley for 35 years, Hard is able to bring her classes back year after year.

Hoyer said that when she heard about Hilton coming down to the Wilkinson Center, she asked her if she could help out somehow. Hoyer said the two of them worked with Eileen Reese, who worked at the Wilkinson Center, to plan out the events.

"Reese encouraged our activities," said Hoyer. "She had heard about a program that was started somewhere else that was a lot like what we wanted to do and she asked us if we would be interested. We kept at it for 20 years."

Hard explained that during the year, different activities are planned and that they try to come once a month and work on a project. The students bring presents and crafts for the residents and also share desserts and food.

"It's just fun," said Hard. "We play bingo together, sing together and whatever else the kids want to do."

Thursday, the children assisted the residents in planting flowers, before helping them polish off a 20th anniversary cake.

Hard said that this event is great from an educational standpoint because it gives the students an idea of what it is like to work with people from previous generations and it also teaches them about sharing and working together. Hoyer said that at the beginning of the year, she shows the kids what it's like to be older by doing things like putting cotton balls in their ears to simulate going deaf and Vaseline on glasses to simulate being blind. Hard said it also teaches them about the process of aging and it teaches the kids how to interact with their own grandparents.

"The process of aging and dying is important," said Hard. "Sometimes they have to see that here and that helps them understand it more when it happens in their own family."

Hoyer added that she had an experience while she was teaching where a parent came to compliment her and explain to her how the event had changed his son's relationship with his parents.

"I got a little nervous, I didn't know what he was going to say," said Hoyer. "He came up and he says 'You know, I gotta thank you. Since my son has been working with the adopt-a-grandparent [program], he is a changed kid. When he is with his grandparents, he is very careful, loving and helpful.' It changed this whole kid just to be around the elderly. He learned to respect other people and to learn why they can't see or why they are hunched over or why they don't hear, they get a whole new outlook."

Ericha Engle, one of Hard's students, says she really enjoys this event and though this is her first year participating in the adopt-a-grandparent program, she said she might come back again this summer because had such a great time.

"It's about being with your grandparents and having fun," said Engle. "We get to be with our grandparents, have lunch together, and we do fun stuff. Ms. Hard is probably the best third-grade teacher ever."

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Contact Luke Smucker at luke.smucker@recordernews.com.