Violet was always Great-Grandma Vi to me. She had three children and two grandchildren that adored her. My mom and her twin brother visited her each Saturday, and their weekly tradition included making fluffy waffles and eggs. With friends in the neighborhood, the family would go for a bike ride to the old park at the end of the road where Great-Grandma Vi would take them when they were younger. When my mom and my uncle slept over on Saturdays, the next morning they would attend church together.

Great-Grandma Vi was a member of the church choir, where she had many friends who loved to sing with her. After practice, she took her grandchildren to church and then the grocery store for penny candy if they behaved well. Great-Grandma Vi was an involved grandmother who traveled on all of the family trips. She was the cafeteria manager at Sacred Heart University and was loved by all her students.

As she grew older, she moved into a nursing home. We would check her out of the home on holidays and bring her to my house or to my Mimi's house. One time around Christmas, I brought her a handmade wreath when I visited her. I remember the pride in her face when she saw my creation. She hung it up on her window for everyone to see. For one Halloween, I made her a pumpkin craft with spooky bats and ghosts all over it. I walked proudly down the hallway with it, and this time, she displayed it on her nightstand. Making crafts for Great-Grandma Vi was one of my favorite things to do. I created Easter, Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day crafts to make sure that she had one of the best-decorated rooms in the nursing home!

My great grandmother was a kind-spirited lady. She received many hugs from the students that she spent time with as the cafeteria manager, and they would always call her name when they saw her. All of Great-Grandma Vi's customers were like her friends. Most of all, her daughter, My Mimi, was a living testament to the heart of my wonderful great-grandmother because of her kind personality. She has inspired us all to project kindness, because kindness always wins.

Although I knew her when I was very young, I feel blessed that I was able to make fun memories with her. My mom, Mimi, uncle and many other people around her had the same privilege. Making crafts is one of the best ways to help our elders feel less lonely - just like I did for my Great-Grandma Vi.

Thank you, Love for Our Elders, for making such a positive impact on the seniors out there!