By Richard Dagenais, SAPA Communications Specialist
Once a week, a group of neurodivergent students from Summit School in Montreal volunteers at Donald Berman Maimonides Geriatric Centre. The students, joined by a teacher, participate in games with residents on the 6th and 7th floors.
“Having a group of young students here brings a nice energy and a breath of fresh air,” says Catherine Drew, Recreation Director at the site. “I like seeing the students develop an appreciation for older adults. Together, they create a bond, and the students want the resident they’re with to win the game they’re playing.”
Students have been volunteering at the centre for two years and the visits are now part of the school curriculum.
“We’re always trying to find ways to have our students see what’s out there and this is a chance for them to make real connections,” says Donato Damiano, a Summit School teacher who brings students to Maimonides.
Summit School also runs a café at the Centre with student interns and a school graduate who has been hired part-time. The Ethel and Morty Fruchter Summit Café opened in March 2022.
