A special Christmas celebration brought together different generations of the community as homeschool students and their families partnered with two community groups to make the holidays more cheerful for some local senior citizens.
The Elizabethton/Carter County Public Library and Carter County Community Advisory Board (CAB) joined forces with the local homeschool group Monday morning to host the inaugural Homeschool/Senior Christmas Event.
The children, families and seniors enjoyed a pancake breakfast featuring bacon, fried apples and, in the spirit of the holiday, red and green pancakes.
Local seniors in the community attended the special event, including a group from Sycamore Springs Assisted Living Facility.
The homeschool students and their families prepared special gifts for the seniors who attended the event.
“Each of them got an ornament and a gift card,” said Children’s Librarian Ashlee Williams.
After the meal, the homeschool families hosted a “Chinese Gift Swap” with the seniors where instead of opening a present for themselves the senior could “steal” a present from someone who had already opened theirs.
Williams was pleased with how well the event on Monday morning went.
“For a first time event I would say it’s a success,” she said. “We had a large turnout.”
CAB member Thomas Davis was also pleased with the event.
“This is great,” he said. “We should try to do this every year.”