Mercy Mounthawk’s LCA classes prepare Christmas treats for elder members of the local community
In conjunction with their community work module for Leaving Certificate Applied , our LCA classes came together to create a project for a very worthy cause, to bring a small bit of cheer to some of the elderly members of our local community. The 6th year LCA’s in Mercy Secondary School Mounthawk had the great idea to create treat boxes for 120 elderly in Baile Mhuire Day Care Centre for older people in Tralee. Baile Mhuire day care centre situated in the old Mercy Order convent at Balloonagh in Tralee. They provide care and respite for 120 patients per day, but at the moment, due to Covid restrictions, they aren’t allowed to have their patients in the building. Instead, the staff of Baile Mhuire send out meals to the patients at their homes.
Our LCA’s made, as part of their Hotel Catering and Tourism module, Mince Pies and small gifts. They packaged the mince pies, buns, chocolate treats and specially created Christmmas puzzles into gift boxes. They each took the initiative to write little notes for the boxes, with a special Christmas message for the elderly of the day care centre, which was sent out with their dinners. With the help from a few of their friends in 5th year LCA, the students managed to prepare and pack 120 treat boxes, all individually wrapped with a special touch and message of good will for each. The LCA’s really enjoyed their project and they learned loads from it. As one of our students Chelsea said ‘I am inspired by the older generation, with the things they know and the history they have been through’, while Erin said ‘I just want to let you know that you are loved, you are appreciated and I know that it mightn’t mean a lot from somebody you don’t even know but believe me I mean it’.
