Thursday morning’s ribbon cutting at the new Acorns and Oaks intergenerational daycare program at the Perry Lutheran Home was bittersweet because the 50 Perry Chamber of Commerce members and others attending knew it would be the last cutting presided over by outgoing Chamber Executive Director Bob Wilson, who announced his resignation last week.
“These are some of my favorite events,” Wilson said. “There’s a lot of things I’ll miss about this job, but ribbon cuttings are right near the top.” Wilson has served six years as the Chamber’s lead administrator and plans to stay on until a successor is found.
The ribbon cutting highlighted the partnership between the Perry Lutheran Home and Acorns and Oaks Christian Daycare, which brings together younger and older generations for interaction and engagement and fosters connections that benefit both the individuals and the community.
The Rev. Max Phillips, chief executive officer of the Perry Lutheran Home, welcomed a number of guests to the event, including Steve Turner, president of the western Iowa district of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
Other notable guests were Jerry Bossard, president of the Christ Lutheran Church, Kelly Bossard, chair of the daycare committee at Christ Lutheran Church, Curt Carlson, chair of the Perry Lutheran Home board of directors, and Aimee Carlson, dealer in the Arbonne line of Young Living oils.
Many members of the Perry Lutheran Home staff also attended the ribbon cutting, and a large cohort of Perry Chamber of Commerce members further swelled the scene.
Kim Anderson, a participant in the Acorns and Oaks program, said spending time with the children is a bright spot in her day.
“The kids bring a lot of life and energy here,” Anderson said. “For many of these kids, their grandparents might not live nearby, so the kids don’t get to spend much time with them. We’re kind of like substitute grandparents for them and vice versa.”
The positive effects of intergenerational groups like Acorns and Oaks are well established, according to Deb Koelln, chief care officer at the Perry Lutheran Home.
“Acorns and Oaks provides so much to both the children and our residents,” Koelln said. “The Perry Lutheran Home is one of the very few in Iowa, if not the nation, to offer intergenerational, Christian daycare in a long-term care setting. When you think about ways to enrich the lives of those around us, you immediately think about how relationships and connections are so very important to happiness, health and well-being.”
Acorns and Oaks Director Tammy Kratz said intergenerational programs have been found to provide significant benefits when strategically planned and implemented. Older adults can experience enhanced socialization, stimulated learning, increased emotional support and improved health, she said.
Children also see benefits, Kratz said, in terms of improved academic performance, enhanced social skills, decreased negative behavior and increased stability.
“Our goal is to deliver well-rounded education to infants and toddlers and to shape lives by way of Christian values, creativity and innovation,” she said. “Children are nurtured in a safe, Christian environment while learning about Christ’s love for them.”
Acorns and Oaks is currently accepting applications for children ages 1 to 5 years. The daycare’s hours are Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Kratz at tammy@acornsoaks.com or 515-465-5342 x22.
