photo by: Rochelle Valverde/Journal-World

Woodlawn third-grader Lily Eckhardt hands a paper bunny to Stephanie Spyker.

If spring represents a time of growth and new beginnings, Woodlawn students did their part to spread that feeling on Wednesday.

On a brisk spring day, second- and third-grade Woodlawn students walked from their school in North Lawrence over to Midland Care, 319 Perry St. On the way, many of them picked dandelions that they joined with paper bunnies they made by tracing their hands. The bunnies were decorated with markers and filled with messages of care and encouragement that the students wrote themselves.

Messages included “some bunny loves you,” “choose happy,” and “you are brave.” One student cut out white wings and glued them to the back of the bunny, while another made a bouquet of tulips for the bunny’s hand. The message second-grader Luke Coursen wrote on his bunny was a simple one: I love you. When asked how he was feeling when he handed his paper bunny to someone, his response was also a simple one: “just happy.”

“Because it’s cool to meet all these people,” he added.

photo by: Rochelle Valverde/Journal-World

One of the bunnies includes several messages, including “your are strong” and “some bunny loves you.”

The kids filed through in three groups, with those waiting outside leaving messages and pictures on the sidewalk in chalk while their fellow students delivered their bunnies. Some shyly approached and wordlessly handed over their bunny, while others stopped and talked, and some even gave hugs. The recipients were all participants in Midland’s Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), a comprehensive support program at the day center that helps seniors stay at home.

After the last group of kids prepared to return to school, many of the PACE participants counted their bunnies, joking with each other to see who had gotten the most. PACE participant Stephanie Spyker had a stack of several in her hand, and she flipped through them, reading all the messages aloud.

“I was just loving them,” she said of the kids. “Just grinning from ear to ear.”

photo by: Rochelle Valverde/Journal-World

Stephanie Spyker holds paper bunnies that she was given by Woodlawn students.

photo by: Rochelle Valverde/Journal-World

Stephanie Spyker holds paper bunnies that she was given by Woodlawn students.

PACE participant Jennifer Kline had on a pair of white bunny ears for the occasion. Kline held a paper bunny with the message, “some bunny loves you.”

“It was priceless,” Kline said of the morning’s visitors. “I can’t remember my kids being that young. My baby is 33.”

photo by: Rochelle Valverde/Journal-World

Dorothy Hunt receives a paper bunny and a hug from a Woodlawn student.

One of the Woodlawn teachers who brought her class over was Andi Anderson. She pointed out that some of the kids were wearing bright circular stickers on their shirts. She said the class had recently read a book called “A Little Spot of Kindness,” about the impact of small, kind gestures. She said it was the second time the students had brought gifts over to Midland, the first time being for Valentines Day.

“It’s important for the kids to see this part of life too,” she said.

photo by: Rochelle Valverde/Journal-World

Woodlawn students hand out paper bunnies with messages at Midland Care on April 5, 2023.

Kristy Feltz, life enrichment specialist for Midland, said the interactions between the seniors and the Woodlawn students represent a mutual relationship. She said when the kids share a song or a card with those at Midland, it lifts everyone’s spirits.

“I think we need to be doing this more,” Feltz said, noting that Midland was lucky to have Woodlawn, as well as the Ballard Center, nearby. “It just creates a healthier community if children can realize how powerful their words are.”

Once all three groups of the children had made their deliveries, multiple paper bunnies filled every table. PACE participant Robert Goodwin was one of the quieter ones on Wednesday, but his assessment was straightforward enough.

“I enjoyed it,” he said. “They should come back.”

photo by: Rochelle Valverde/Journal-World

Dorothy Hunt, far left, Stephanie Spyker, Jennifer Kline and Ginger Frazier wave goodbye to Woodlawn students.