Last Friday, Cast B performed at the Wartburg Adult Community in Mount Vernon. Friday was a very sad day.
The kids who performed didn't necessarily know that, but all of the adults, including the older folks in the audience, were very aware of it and quietly discussed what they had seen on the news amongst themselves before we started the show.
I have no greater testament to the power of the Kids Who Care than this gentleman's smile.
His name is Ray. This is what he told me after the show: "I thought it was wonderful. I'm so glad they picked such nice, cheerful songs."
Julia White, seen front and center, made it in just the nick of time due to a traffic jam on the Hutch. The kids started to run from the back of the nursing home lounge to start the show. Julia- while running- tossed her coat on a table, grabbed a Santa hat from Julie while already singing- and didn't miss a note. It was most impressive!
When I spoke to Pearlyn, the woman above on the left, she honestly wasn't sure how old she was. "In my eighties; I forget," she said. She told me this: "I loved it! The children have such great energy and such talent. I hope they keep it up."
The show lasted 20 minutes.
The girls sang, "Let It Snow," "Jingle Bell Rock," "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "Deck the Halls," "My Dreidel," "Holly Jolly Christmas," "Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland,""Silent Night," "Sleigh Ride," and "All I Want for Christmas Is You."
Afterwards, they had ten minutes to meet and greet the residents.
I have to say, this is the part that really made my heart swell with pride.
Even though there were juice and cookies and friends to see, each one of our Kids Who Care took time to really reach out to the residents.
They asked the residents which songs were their favorites, asked their names, shared information about themselves, and wished everyone a happy holiday. They were bright, articulate, polite and mature.
We got a nice writeup in the Mount Vernon Daily Voice here, and many local Patch sites recognized the children from their towns, including Larchmont, Bedford-Katonah, Scarsdale, Greenwich, Peekskill, Rye, Pleasantville, and White Plains.
To learn more about the Kids Who Care, click here. Please note, this is only one cast! We are just as proud of our Cast A! If you'd like to bring the Kids Who Care to a senior center, afterschool program, children's hospital, nursing home or veterans' organization, please email julie@randomfarms.com. See the full set of photos on Facebook!
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