For students, the end of summer vacation can be bittersweet, as the fun experiences of summer come to an end and the homework assignments from teachers start again. For nursing home residents, it can also be an emotional time, as they recall their younger days and their own experiences of sending their young children to school. For the students and nursing home residents of Sandwich, IL, the end of summer vacation was celebrated in a special way. The residents of Sandwich Rehabilitation and Health Care Center gave away backpacks full of school supplies and hosted a carnival of games and activities to entertain the children.
Through the support of the community, over twenty-five local businesses teamed up with Sandwich Rehab to help collect school supplies donated by the community. The staff and residents of Sandwich Rehab compiled the donations and filled the backpacks with the supplies. Then, on August 15, the day before the students go back to school, the residents and staff of Sandwich Rehab opened their doors to the children and invited them in for a carnival celebration.
The end of summer carnival included all of the classic carnival activities including a ring-toss, knocking down cans, duck pond drawing, face painting, ice cream sundaes, photo booth, and more. Topping-off the festivities was the gifting of school supplies from the residents of Sandwich Rehab to the school children, in celebration of the hard work they are about to undertake as they return to school the next day. Residents, staff, and children from the community all enjoyed an afternoon of fun, with smiles on the faces of everyone.
