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Valentine's Day delivery touches seniors' hearts

Ninety-six-year-old Julia Petruk has never taken much notice of Valentine’s Day, but last Friday afternoon, she – along with several other residents of Sunnyside Manor – had a Valentine’s Day delivery that made the holiday a little extra sweet.
Joe Pilipchuk and his Grade 2 class were among the students making deliveries to Sunnyside Manor residents last week, with Joe’s great-grandmother Julia Petruk one of
Joe Pilipchuk and his Grade 2 class were among the students making deliveries to Sunnyside Manor residents last week, with Joe’s great-grandmother Julia Petruk one of the grateful recipients.

Ninety-six-year-old Julia Petruk has never taken much notice of Valentine’s Day, but last Friday afternoon, she – along with several other residents of Sunnyside Manor – had a Valentine’s Day delivery that made the holiday a little extra sweet.

Traipsing from room to room, whispering to one another, Grade 2 students from St. Paul Elementary made some special deliveries on Friday afternoon at Sunnyside Manor, Valentine’s cards for the seniors at the residence.

“The kids were a little nervous – some of them didn’t know what to expect,” said Grade 2 teacher Pennie Zarowny, noting some of the kids had never been to Sunnyside before. “But after delivering the valentines, they were all excited.”

Petruk has been in Sunnyside for less than two years, after suffering a fall in her home. On Friday, she was sitting in her room in Sunnyside, when the whole class came inside, with her tall seven-year-old grandson right at the front.

“Nobody had so many children. They all came to my room – Joseph was leading them, right to my face,” said Julia, who found herself crying as they delivered her cards. “When these children came, they said, ‘Happy Valentine’s grandma.’”

The lady that was there, she said, ‘Joseph, would you like to take a picture with your grandma?’ And he said yes – he came to me and put his face to mine, and took a picture,’” said Julia, choking up all over again.

“I felt with joy and pride – I was happy he came right to me.”

Zarowny said it was an “awesome” experience for the kids, teaching them empathy for others.

The Valentine’s Day delivery was a unique activity, brought on by the Town of St. Paul FCSS. The department had received a donation of about 3,000 Valentines cards, and partnered with local schools to have students deliver the cards to residents at Sunnyside Manor, J.P. Decosse Auxiliary, Heritage Homes and Extendicare.

While some of the young people started out being scared, they soon realized these older folks were part of the communities and people’s families, recognizing their classmates and friends’ pictures that were hung up on the walls.

The kids made several other seniors’ day as well, with one elderly man telling Zarowny that the kids all walked into his open door. “I put my arms out and they all wanted to hug me,” he told her.

“I just thought to myself, ‘We’re going to do this every year,’” said Zarowny.

Seven-year-olds Joseph Pilipchuk and Will Hurtubise each received a kiss from “Baba Baba,” as Julia is dubbed. While Will said he was one of the kids that was a bit nervous before going to Sunnyside, his nervousness disappeared after he saw the seniors’ reaction.

“I felt good because I made, our class made, an old girl happy,” said Will.

There’s only one thing that would make Julia’s Valentine even sweeter – another visit from the kids so she can reciprocate with a gift of her own.

“I had no candy to treat them with – but now I do!” she said, encouraging the kids to come back for another visit sometime.

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