AZLE — Compassionate Azle students helped Azle Manor residents feel the love this Valentine’s Day. Walnut Creek students Sahara Morgan-Romero, 9, Ruby Rose Romero, 6, and Liam Kendrick, 9, visited the retirement community, Feb. 14, bearing chocolates, cards, balloons and plenty of hugs.
“A lot of people don’t get visitors, and I just want to make them feel special and happy and make their best day of their lives,” Liam said.
Sahara and Liam met this school year and quickly brought their families together in friendship. Sahara was chasing Liam through the playground one day when he decided to turn around and ask if she played football. She said yes and they played together. The next week, apparently tired of waiting, Sahara asked, “Will you be my Valentine, or what?”
That question would lead the kids and their parents to discuss good ways to spend the holiday. When all was said and done, it was clear Liam and Sahara, along with her younger sister Ruby, were intent on spreading kindness to others on the loveliest day of the year. Ruby said she had prayed to God that no one would be lonely and sad on Valentine’s Day. Liam roared with joy when asked how he felt on his visit.
The girls’ mother, Summer Morgan, got in contact with Azle Manor Activities Director Katlynn Russell and made all the necessary arrangements.
“It was very endearing,” Russell said. “Some residents up here don’t have a lot of family and to get a hug from a little one truly lifted their spirits. To see the joy the kids brought the residents that night was heart felt and truly a special ending to there nights. It amazed me how the kids were so outgoing and loving towards the residents, most times kids get shy in front of a bunch of people but not Summers and Amys kids, they completely embraced them with open arms and loved every moment of it. Summer and Amy were amazing as well and you can really tell they are doing an outstanding job with their kids. I speak for all of us here at Azle Manor when I say we can’t wait for them to come out again!”
Liam’s mom, Amy Duncan, said it was a heart-warming experience and that seeing her kid’s kindness was inspiring and made her think about the importance of community service and the connections between people of all generations. Amy Duncan is an Azle High School graduate while Summer Morgan and her family moved to the community in July.
“One thing as a mom that I’ve noticed is it’s a 24-hour job,” Summer Morgan said. “You give everything. When I was visiting with the people there, I was thinking, ‘wow, how do you go from that being needed 24 hours a day to sitting by the door, probably waiting for a visit.’ It’s really heartwarming to see and they were so grateful just for a smile, or just when my daughter touched their hand, or when Liam shook a hand. To see the impact it made, I realized we all need to be there more in this community for each other, because we love it. We just moved here, but this is the most perfect small-town America for us ever.”
After hearing about their good deed, each of the students’ teachers played a montage of their Valentine’s Day photos in their classes, earning them the admiration of their peers.
The kids want to continue visiting Azle Manor residents on other special occasions to show them that they’re cared for. Ruby, in particular, hopes to paint and engage in other arts and crafts projects with the seniors in the future.
“It made me really happy and it probably makes them happy,” Ruby said. “A lady cried because she hasn’t seen her grandkids or her kids in a long, long time.”
Sahara added that she hopes Azle Manor residents know there are people who care about them and that she felt she had made meaningful connections with residents.
“I really want to shout out to the old people that I love them, and I wish them a happy rest of their holidays,” Sahara said.
This trio was not the only group of youngsters spreading love at Azle Manor that day. Boyd Middle School and Boyd High School students Lance Platt and Bryan Dennis were also visiting area seniors that day, with their family. The two cousins, along with Lance’s mother and their grandmother, have been visiting the nursing home on a regular basis for several years.
“I’ve lived in the Boyd-Azle area most of my life,” mother Hollie Hornsby said. “My mother and I had a yard sale about four years ago; we had lots of leftovers such as bedding and jackets and just all things that any individual could use. So, we decided to get a few care packs together for the homeless people. The joy it brought to our lives just seeing the gratitude and thankfulness on their faces was more than enough to want to help even deeper.”
One day, Hornsby’s mother suggested showering Azle Manor residents with attention and gifts and the facility has been a go-to spot for the family ever since. Grandmother Kathy Sherman of Boyd said it brings her and her grandsons immense joy to visit Azle Manor residents and deliver them gifts.
“It’s an awesome feeling, I know I made them feel special if only for a short time,” Sherman said.
Hornsby recalled the immense gratitude and emotions expressed by residents toward her son Lance and nephew Bryan during their visits and said that she is glad to see younger children visiting with the elderly as well.
“I think it’s wonderful that there are others such as Summer and her children,” Hornsby said. “They are all so very involved and it’s just great to be able to share these moments and memories that will stick in our minds forever, especially the children.”
Bryan Dennis, Kathy Sherman, Lance Platt and Hollie Hornsby visit Azle Manor on Valentine’s Day. COURTESY PHOTO
Sahara gives balloons to Azle Manor residents on Valentine’s Day.
Ruby hugs an Azle Manor resident on Valentine’s Day.
