This past summer our Grandfriends at Monette Manor, our local nursing home, started moving back in. Monette Manor had to be rebuilt because of the tornado that hit our area in 2021. Their therapy department, Elevate Rehabilitation, reached out to our EAST program and asked if we could help them recreate some of their therapy products that they had before the tornado. After meeting with their therapists, our EAST students got to work. They specifically asked for domino mats where their residents could exercise fine motor skills as well as cognitive therapy.  Lauren has been designing and 3D printing a sorting box. Cason, Leo, and Aiden have been working on a sensory board that would be appropriate for our senior citizens. Other students are creating fidget blankets for residents with dementia and Parkinson’s to reduce anxiety and stress. 

Since October we’ve been able to make weekly visits to Monette Manor. After a few years with limited interactions we’re finally reconnecting with our Grandfriends. Friendships across the generations can help keep family stories and history alive, reduce the risk of depression as well as diminish isolation in older adults. Faith and Jessica have coordinated virtual visits with one particular Grandfriend, Mrs. Billie. Mrs. Billie was a public school teacher for 35 years and then taught adult education classes. She started teaching during World War Two.  She worked in education for close to 50 years. Mentoring young people continues to be important to her. Mrs. Billie recently celebrated her 97th birthday.

One of our former EAST students, Cadyn Qualls, is the Events and Volunteer Coordinator for United Cerebral Palsy of Arkansas. Cadyn met with us to discuss possible project opportunities in collaboration with the UCP.  After our initial meeting, we spent some time researching their organization and brainstorming potential project ideas. We were able to meet with the director of their adult center. She expressed their need for a motion mounted plate that would help their adult residents feed themselves more independently.  We’re excited about this opportunity and have met with her to discuss potential designs.  Currently, we are developing a prototype using Tinkercad and Fusion 360.  Our local hardware store has advised us on what connectors to use, but we’ve struggled with figuring out how to connect the mount to the table because it needs to be able to move to different surfaces of various thickness and size. We hope to visit the CLA center to get feedback on our design in the near future. 

Our community looks forward each year to our annual Veterans Day Program. The American Legion Post 136 in Monette collaborates with our EAST students to honor our hometown heroes for their service to our country. We continued our tradition of inducting veterans into our Buffalo Island Veterans Hall of Fame. Tribute videos were created for Major Ronnie Metcalf, United States Army, and Master Gunnery Sergeant Sam Bibb, United States Marine Corps. EAST students met with these veterans to record their military story. Both families expressed their gratitude for acknowledging their service.  Our Veterans Day Program brings our community together to celebrate patriotism and honor those who have served.