GREENFIELD — Kynna Hodgin found common ground with Garie Branden through singing the lyrics of Amy Winehouse and Chubby Checker.
A dozen students of The Academy at Greenfield-Central spent a recent Friday afternoon rubbing elbows with seniors through an ongoing program hosted by Hancock County Senior Services. The students of the alternative school, which serves kids who don’t flourish in a conventional classroom setting, played tabletop games with the group of seniors who visited The Academy and shared stories.
The afternoon of social engagement aim to encourage interaction between generations, said Senior Services volunteer coordinator Kit Paternoster. Such engagements attempt to foster greater understanding between the groups and help area seniors combat loneliness and isolation, she said.
“I told stories and shared wisdom, encouraged them,” Branden said. “We’ve had a lot of fun.”
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Hancock County Senior Services provides a variety of programs to area seniors, including transportation through Hancock Area Rural Transit and helpers who perform handyman services or check in with isolated residents.
Todd Grimes, a teacher at The Academy, said he hopes the program remains a regular occurrence because it’s a good way to get the students involved in the community.
Hodgin, a junior studying at The Academy, connected with Branden by showing her the silly filters on Snapchat and bonded with Jan Pelley, another senior in attendance, over a mutual love of antiques.
The recent event was the second time Pelley came out to an inter-generational event organized by Senior Services, she said.
“I love doing this,” she said. “You’d be surprised how much older adults have in common with younger adults.”
