During these challenging times of COVID-19, thoughtful acts of kindness can go a long way. Find out what the ACH Group’s community has done to support each other and spread kindness during COVID-19.
ACH Group’s 2020 SALA exhibition
To compliment ACH Group’s 2020 SALA exhibition members of the broader community were also invited to be part of our community project in the form of an art installation made up of over 1,000 paper butterflies.
The response was overwhelming, from the messages of kindness received, to over 2,000 glitter coated and beautifully painted and embellished butterflies. Butterfly artists range from 2 to 103 years old, from residents at ACH Group’s residential care homes, over 20 schools across South Australia, family, staff and many more! Butterflies represent many things to different people, including hope, life, joy, kindness and creativity.
The exhibition was held at the Arts Centre in Port Noarlunga from 7 August to 1 September 2020. Thank you to everyone who contributed!
Keeping hearts full and hands warm
Winter is a great time to pick up the knitting needles, especially to help someone in need. Residents at ACH Group’s Perry Park residential care home did just this with their community initiative ‘Keeping Hearts Full and Hands Warm’, by reaching out to others to also contribute. The result was hundreds of pieces of handwarmers and beanies gifted to Adelaide’s homeless community through Vinnies.
Be ready – this will open up again in April 2021!
A picture paints a thousand connection
COVID-19 restrictions didn’t stop locals in the Onkaparinga area from connecting with each other, they just needed to do it differently.
Students from Aldinga Beach R-7 school and residents at ACH Group’s Perry Park residential care home at Port Noarlunga joined together as part of a ‘Making friends in the community’ program. The initiative aimed to develop a special intergenerational pen pal relationship between reception students and older people. With a long history of intergenerational activities, Perry Park’s staff created a little twist whereby residents could choose their pen pal by adopting their drawing. Max Martin, 78, is one of the residents who ‘adopted’ a picture and started writing to Ryder. “I was walking down the passage when I saw a painting called ‘A Rainbow House’ which I thought was really special. It was from a boy called Ryder who is 5-years-old,” Max said. “I was extremely impressed. I know that when I was his age, I could not paint like that.”
After adopting Ryder’s painting, Max wrote to him sharing a little bit about his life. “I told Ryder that I still go to the gym and that I like making models. I sent him a photo of the HMAS Australia model I am building and have promised to send another letter with a photo of my complete ship.” For Edna, 91, who adopted Madison’s painting, it was the pleasure of seeing children and older people interacting. “The drawings were beautiful and really gave us an insight into each child’s personality and lives,” Edna explained. The experience was just as rewarding for the younger ones. Gibson, 6, said he has learned a lot of things and is looking forward to meeting Perry Park residents in the future. “I learned that they (residents) didn’t have cars, buses or trains and had to walk three miles to get to school,” Gibson said. Regardless of age, everyone has something to share and the connections created from the program enrich the lives of everyone involved.
