Submitted by Oswego Health
While Christmas has now passed with the presents opened and the family gatherings near complete, the residents of The Manor at Seneca Hill are still in awe of the generosity of an extended New Haven family that visited the skilled nursing home delivering cards and gifts. A week or so before Christmas, Emma and Eric Hyde, of New Haven, who are second graders at New Haven Elementary, along with other family members and school friends brought more than 100 gifts and 60 handmade cards to The Manor.
Laura Hyde, the twin’s mother, said each year Emma and Eric discuss ideas on how they can give to others during the holidays and this year they selected The Manor. The skilled nursing facility is where their grandmother, Joan Hyde, once lived. With that decision made, the family asked others if they would like to join their efforts. An announcement about the project was made at their church, the Lycoming Methodist Church, while a family member solicited support from her co-workers at Huhtamaki in Fulton, and the twins talked about it at school. Soon other students at New Haven elementary were making cards, and generous friends and co-workers were working to ensure there would be enough gifts.
With the efforts of their project loaded in the car, the twins, their parents, Laura and Eric Hyde, along with cousins, Evan Caroccio, Maya and Mallory Upcraft, and school friend Adam Clark, all traveled to The Manor to deliver the cards and gifts. During their visit, they distributed some of the gifts to residents gathered in the dining hall and sang a few Christmas songs.
Days after the visit, the residents were still talking about their cards and gifts. “Our residents really enjoyed the visit from this family and their friends,” said Jennifer Whiteside, The Manor’s activities director. “The kids were so adorable and their gifts and cards meant so much to our residents. It was wonderful that they thought of our residents and they truly brought the true meaning of Christmas to The Manor.”
The Oswego Healthcare System is a not-for-profit organization and includes Oswego Hospital, The Manor at Seneca Hill, a skilled nursing facility; Springside at Seneca Hill, a retirement living community; an urgent care center in Fulton, as well as health services centers in Mexico, Parish and Phoenix. For more information, call (315) 349-5500 or visit oswegohealth.org.
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