There are many amazing young adults living in our city, but few truly stand out like Madelynn Hamilton, a twelfth-grade Leo Hayes student, known for her consistent involvement within Pine Grove Nursing Home.
Pine Grove Nursing Home, a home for the elderly, is warm and inviting, housing around seventy beds and providing great care for their wonderful residents. Madelynn has been volunteering at the nursing home since August of 2019, the summer after her ninth-grade year. Like many things throughout the pandemic, many aspects of volunteering have changed, but she explains that she enjoys it regardless and volunteers regularly- twice a week during the school year and three times a week during the summer.
While there are many things she admires about volunteering with Pine Grove Madelynn “enjoyed seeing [residents] smile” the most. Due to many different factors, there are times residents don’t have family that visit, which may cause them to feel lonely. However, Madelynn chooses to spend time with them and run fun activities with them, whether it be a water park day or a holiday party.
Something that prompted her to start volunteering was that she would be able to help people who need it. She could give something, without expecting something in return- an important virtue, she explains, especially during these trying times. Additionally, Madelynn believes this can be applied to all forms of volunteerism that she and other students partake in, including in-school volunteer clubs.
Although Madelynn does not see herself becoming a medical or geriatric care professional in the future, she loves to work with the elderly, and finds volunteering and helping others to be gratifying. She is very much interested in elderly care as a pastime alongside her career. All in all, it is evident that Madelynn’s work has impacted many within Pine Grove, and that she will continue to make a difference in their lives for many years to come.