The sixth- and seventh-graders didn’t waste any time once they arrived at the huge old house on Main Street.
With a crew of five girls and six boys, the CCD class from St. Dan’s Catholic Church in Clarkston got busy raking, bagging, and carting away a yard full of fallen leaves at the home of Barbara Thomson, one of the city’s longtime residents.
‘This is our first community service project,? said Linda Johnston, who’s been teaching the CCD class at St. Dan’s for 7 years.
‘It’s hard for busy families to get out and volunteer in the community, so we’re incorporating this into the other parts of our class.?
The project was organized through Clarkston’s new Senior Chore Program, designed to give the city’s older residents an extra hand with yard work, snow shoveling, and other household tasks.
‘It’s wonderful, one of my many blessings,? said Thomson, who has lived in the home for 60 years. ‘The kids sure have a lot more energy than I have.?
Clarkston City Councilwoman Kristy Ottman first initiated the program last summer.
Senior citizens, she said, carried the burden for many years and deserve some extra help when they need it.
‘It’s just the right thing to do,? she said.
Coordinators had hoped to work in partnership with the Senior Center in Independence Township, but a millage rejected in the Nov. 7 election means that Clarkston may have to operate the program without support from the township.
‘We are going to proceed,? said Clarkston resident Tom Stone, who partnered with Ottman to create the program. ‘It means the kind of network we’ll have available will be different, but we’re going to continue working on our own system and coming up with our own resources.?
Stone said several private residents, as well as St. Dan’s and one other community church, have expressed an interest in helping out with the program for the benefit of seniors ? and those who volunteer.
‘They did a really nice job,? said Michelle Behm, who team-teaches the CCD class with Johnson at St. Dans. ‘It’s nice to see this age group doing something nice for someone other than themselves.?
Program organizers are working to define the level of need in the community Seniors who would like a hand with chores, or those who know a senior who could use some help, can call xxx-xxx-xxxx. Please see page A for pictures of the Senior Chore Program team members in action.