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Hazel Renich
Hatterberg's People
Reporter: Larry Hatteberg
February 4, 2007--It is one of those concepts that make perfect sense. Put children and the elderly together and both win. Hazel Renich of Hesston chose to do just that as a volunteer in a facility built for two different generations.
“Oh come on, what did you do? Are you going to make music?” |
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It may be cold outside, but inside the Hesston Intergenerational Child Development Center, there is no shortage of grandparents.
“Whatever you play, they don’t care.”
Hazel Renich is one of them. She raised 10 children of her own and now volunteers at the center.
“I get out of it, the love that the kids give me. It shows to me that it is God’s love and I can give his love, through me, to them.” |
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What makes this place unique is that the child care center is part of Showalter Villa, a retirement center.
“I feel real good.”
“Don’t you wish you could be as spry as that grandmother in there? Yes, there was a day that I was. Yes, I know.” |
Here, the old and young interact on almost an hourly basis.
“Well this is for you, you want the baby. You may have the baby.”
Judy Friesen directs the Child Care Center and what she witnesses every day is what makes this place so special.
“Anytime I can see the ages come together it make you feel like you are doing something worthwhile. And we are always eager to share what we have done with other people. Because we firmly believe that what we have done is an idea that should be replicated throughout the state and throughout the nation.” |
“Since we’ve been here for two years, I see children who are much more open to the residents who look different than they do and may be in wheelchairs.”
“What do see Macy, what do you see?” |
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“They feel free to run up to them and give them hugs freely, whereas children who have not been in a facility like this express fear when they encounter people such as this.”
Everyone seems to win in this environment. The kids need help…and volunteer grandmothers like Hazel Renich love to assist. By combining a retirement complex and a day care…..both generations win….and hugs are only a squeeze away.
“Oh yeah.” |
For more information on the Hesston Intergenerational Child Development Center, contact Judy Friesen at: 620-327-3775.
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