COMMUNITY, SCHOOLS

Blanchet club brings cheer, crafts to Mt. Angel nursing home

A Monday visit to a local nursing home gave Blanchet Catholic School students a chance to practice the values of Saint Benedict: service, hospitality, moderation, prayer, respect for persons, and community.

The Salem school’s Friends of Benedictine Club visited Providence Benedictine Nursing Center in Mt. Angel to do craft with residents.

The club was formed about 20 years ago, according to club advisor Chris Lieder, and was established by a student member who had family at the nursing center. Lieder has been the advisor for the past five years. 

The club goes out once or twice a month. They form a group in the living room with residents, but they also have splinter groups that visit with individual residents in their rooms who aren’t as mobile. They have done life journaling projects with residents, and also simply spend time visiting.

Linda Sizemore shows off some of her crochet work to Benedictine Club members in her room in the Providence Benedictine Nursing Center in Mt. Angel on Monday, Dec. 5. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)

The club members like to do crafts, as the craft leaves the resident with a tangible reminder of the visit and the crafting helps build camaraderie. The club has about a dozen members, and they include ninth through 12th grade students. 

“The kids have to get outside their comfort zone, but it’s good for all involved,” Lieder said. “The challenge of connecting two generations becomes easier once both parties realize that they really do have a lot in common. This has been our first time back after two years due to COVID, and we do try to come out at least twice a month regularly.”

Students from the Benedictine Club show Linda Sizemore the selections she can choose from for the window decorations they are making for her window in her room at the Providence Benedictine Nursing Center Mt. Angel on Monday, Dec. 5. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Denise Yung and another resident take part in a crafting session with Benedictine Club members in the living room of the Providence Benedictine Nursing Center in Mt. Angel on Monday, Dec. 5. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Linda Sizemore admires one of the crafts she made with students from the Benedictine Club in her room the Providence Benedictine Nursing Center in Mt. Angel on Monday, Dec. 5. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Krickit makes greeting cards in the living room of the Providence Benedictine Nursing Center with members of the Benedictine Club in Mt. Angel on Monday, Dec. 5. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)
Chris Lieder, Benedictine Club Advisor, assists a Providence Benedictine Nursing Center resident with a crafting project in Mt. Angel on Monday, Dec. 5. (Laura Tesler/Special to Salem Reporter)

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Laura Tesler has lived in Salem, Oregon for 20 years and is originally from Flint, MI. Laura has been an underwater photographer for 15 years, and is an avid scuba diver. Topside, she has been taking photographs since age 12, and currently works on assignment for the Salem Reporter, and full time purchasing land for fish and wildlife habitat in the Willamette Valley. Laura attended Oregon State University, and has traveled extensively all over the world and the United States.