‘My heart went out to them’: Students send messages of hope to seniors at Simcoe Manor in Beeton

Catholic school board trustee Janice Hutchison’s heart broke when she heard seniors at Simcoe Manor were back in isolation after a COVID-19 outbreak this month.

“Reading all of the reports and news articles and seeing our seniors — who are near and dear to our hearts — were quarantined to their rooms, my heart went out to them,” she said. “I thought how upsetting it must be that they aren’t even allowed to sit at a table and have a meal with somebody else.”

As a former volunteer at Simcoe Manor and a trustee, Hutchison came up with a solution.

“I have a school. All I did is sent a simple email to our principal, and she jumped all over it.”

Within days, students from all grades at Monsignor JE Ronan Catholic School in Beeton created a package of hundreds of cards and letters, with special messages to staff and seniors at Simcoe Manor.

“I didn’t expect that — it was jam-packed.”

The cards were stuffed into a large envelope and delivered to the residence, to be quarantined before being handed out to staff and residents.

Hutchison didn’t even peek inside to see the artwork.

“I didn’t want to compromise them.”