Business & Tech
Venice seniors celebrate the holiday with multi-generational party
Venice High School (VHS) students throw holiday party for residents of Village On The Isle (VOTI), a nonprofit Life Plan community
In April of this year, Venice High School (VHS) students hosted a “senior” prom for residents at Village On The Isle (VOTI), a nearby retirement community. The party, which helped students meet their community service requirements, was a huge success. Students enjoyed their time talking and dancing with residents, and residents enjoyed imparting wisdom on the younger generation.
What started as a community service project, has now forged a lasting relationship between the two groups.
In December, VHS came back to the community for a Winter Wonderland themed holiday party. The students planned everything from the décor (blue and silver with snowflakes) to the music, a multigenerational playlist that had both groups up and dancing.
Find out what's happening in Sarasotafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“We had residents up and dancing teaching students how to do dances from their generation, and students teaching the residents dances from the current generation,” said Karen Madden, director of community engagement. “But for both the residents and students, the thing they will tell you they enjoy the most is the conversation and connection.”
VOTI is grateful for the partnership with the local high school. Outside of these events, the community has roughly 15 high school students on staff in its dining room.
Find out what's happening in Sarasotafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Many of them start their first jobs here,” said Madden. “You’ll see residents talking to them during dinner service – they are genuinely invested in their lives and their futures. It’s a beautiful connection between the generations, and one I know our residents really enjoy.”
About Village On The Isle
Incorporated in 1979, Village On The Isle is a nonprofit Life Plan community affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The community is located less than half a mile from the Gulf of Mexico at 920 Tamiami Trail South in Venice, Fla. It offers independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing and gives residents an opportunity to live independently in apartments and cottages, then transition to higher levels of care with caregiver assistance as their needs warrant. For more information, visit www.VillageOnTheIsle.com.
