Vitalia Senior Residences at Stow Brings Story Corner to the Community

Planetary Scientist Carl Sagan once said, “One of the greatest gifts adults can give – to their offspring and to their society – is to read to children.”

Putting books into the hands of children and forming meaningful intergenerational relationships is a priority for Arrow Senior Living communities! To support our efforts, we have launched what we call “Arrow Story Corner.” Each month a resident records the reading of a children’s book that highlights an “Arrow Tradition,” and these stories are shared online for all to hear. This tradition has grown from our company-wide Black History Month Story Corners, where residents all around Arrow Communities read children’s books highlighting black figures in history.

To support small businesses and literacy efforts, we host a fundraiser and partner with the EyeSeeMe Children’s Bookstore to purchase and donate copies of the books we read to local schools, and then a portion of our fundraising efforts also support The EyeSeeMe Foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to create programs that increase childhood literacy for under-served communities and to promote African American History and multicultural literature that will increase respect and tolerance for diverse cultures.

This month, Vitalia Senior Residences at Stow is taking things a step further and embarking on the adventure of monthly Story Corner events in our community. One of our very own residents will read the Story Corner book of the month to children, as well as other residents, and share in a craft event and snack time. The featured book will then be added to our community library for residents to read to visiting grandchildren. A copy of the book will also be donated to local schools with which our community partners.

I think it is very important that family members come and join the residents in special activities, especially reading. It makes the residents feel good knowing they are spending time with their little loved ones doing something so important for their growth. In today’s age of technology, children often spend a lot of time in front of a screen, sometimes even when they are visiting with their grandparents or great-grandparents. When they come to read in our Story Corners, they are present in the moment of the book and can spend quality time with their loved ones.

We have a wonderful relationship with Fishcreek Elementary. The school is often the recipient of our children’s book donations. We have also, in the past, gone and read to All Around Children Daycare in Stow.

LaVonne Miller was our first featured resident reader for our Story Corner. She is a retired elementary teacher and reading to the residents and their families brought back many wonderful memories of reading to her students. After the reading, we had a young reader reach out to come and be the next featured reader. She is just starting to learn to read fluently and LaVonne will be guiding her during the reading.

Dr. Dan the Bandage Man was a favorite book many of our residents read to their children. Residents also recalled sharing Twas the Night Before Christmas with their children on Christmas Eve as a family tradition.

All our Arrow communities encourage adults to give the gift of reading to youngsters. The relationships formed during the time spent between the reader and listener can be life changing for both generations.