At Buffalo Crossings assisted living recently, Mary Shaner, the bookkeeper for Villages Elementary in Lady Lake, spoke about the significance of what Buffalo Crossings residents had accomplished for students when they loaded more than 25 backpacks with paper, pencils, glue sticks, markers and other supplies in planning for the first day of classes. She applauded residents for their commitment to helping her students.
With the items they had, Buffalo Crossings events director Barbie Smerecki said the residents hoped to sponsor at least one class, but they finished up assisting more than they intended.
“We called a few schools that are close to us, and the first one we called said they were overloaded with donations,” Smerecki said. “We wanted to focus on schools that needed help; a school that had few supplies we could make an impact with.”
When Shaner realized that Buffalo Crossings people wanted to help, she was ecstatic.
Sheila Pradeilhes assisted Smerecki and Shaner in loading the bags and supplies into Shaner’s car recently.
Pradeilhes, who works as an activities assistant at the facility, expressed her thought that “everyone loves doing activities, but they especially enjoy doing things that benefit others.”
She stated it’s always a pleasure to assist residents in having a good time.
The backpack “stuffing” took place in two sessions, according to Smerecki, and involved a couple of dozen residents.
“We ordered all the supplies and managed to fit everything in the bags,” Smerecki said. “But then we had a shipment come later with more things, and more residents finished filling the backpacks with the new supplies.”
Buffalo Crossings residents go out of their way to support their community in any way they can. Smerecki stated that they have previously donated to The Haven of Lake & Sumter Counties, as well as other food pantries.
“We make a point to celebrate the small things and big things all the same,” she said. “Whether that’s organizing school supplies or celebrating our first resident.”
Smerecki and the Buffalo Crossings residents commemorated the anniversary of Bill Sieber, the facility’s first resident, in June.
Life is too brief, according to Smerecki, to not take advantage of every opportunity to rejoice.