On Thursday, 59 Career and Technical Education students in the health careers and nurse’s aide classes delivered holiday gifts to dozens of area senior citizens in collaboration with Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly.

This annual event makes a difference in the lives of both young and old.

“Getting kids out into the community and out of their comfort zone” is a big part of why CTE nurse’s aide instructor Lorie Maki sustains the tradition of partnering with Little Brothers. Not only does this collaboration fill a need at the holidays, it also gives her students practice in caring for folks in long-term care.

“Visiting with elders builds communication skills,” Maki said of her students who are often more comfortable with interactions via phone or computer. “This collaboration gives kids an opportunity to be responsible.”

Candace Wolf/Daily Mining Gazette Houghton High School seniors, from left, Danielle Williston, Lance Isaacson and Ayla Miller pose with gifts to be delivered to Lakeview Manor residents in the complex’s lobby Thursday. The students are part of the Career and Technical Education nurse’s aide class that collaborated with Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly to distribute holiday packages to area senior citizens.

It also gives teens a rewarding way to give back to their community and to spread the joy of Christmas.

Maggie Hallstrom of Lakeview Manor in Hancock joyfully answered the door Thursday morning, welcoming three nurse’s aide students from Houghton High School into her apartment.

As seniors Lance Isaacson, Ayla Miller and Danielle Williston entered, Hallstrom quickly made room on the couch and chairs for them to sit. The 84-year-old cleared several items, including an incomplete Scrabble game and a present from Finland.

Hallstrom shared that Finnish was her first language as her grandparents immigrated from Finland.

Using each finger to represent a number, she counted to 10 in Finnish for her guests.

Candace Wolf/Daily Mining Gazette A cross-stitched wall hanging decorates a wall in Maggie Hallstrom’s Lakeview Manor apartment. “Var dag ar en sallsam gava” is Swedish for “every day is a precious gift.”

People “never count in Finnish anymore,” Hallstrom said, citing the difference in syllables between English and Finnish numbers.

A cross-stitched wall hanging containing a Swedish phrase adorned the wall of her living room. Hallstrom explained that it had been her mother’s, who was fluent in Finnish and Swedish.

“Var dag ar en sallsam gava” translates to “every day is a precious gift,” sharing an appropriate message with the gift-bearing students, who had a handful of deliveries to complete that day.

CTE and LBFE worked together to package, wrap and deliver 60 boxes containing 18 food items, including canned ham, fruit, vegetables, coffee and juice.

“We want them to have all the essentials of a holiday meal,” LBFE activities coordinator Danielle Dolby said. In total, LBFE is delivering 160 boxes throughout four counties this holiday season.

Personalized cards signed by staff or local schoolchildren and lap blankets donated by local church members were also distributed to those seniors who might need a little extra.

Dolby attested that the Copper Country has “great community involvement,” but also said there is no shortage of need.

“The list gets longer during the holidays,” Dolby said.

The CTE students make up a small portion of the Little Brothers’ team of volunteers. Help is still needed to deliver packages and to serve, cook and especially clean up Christmas dinner.

Nine local sites offer free Christmas meals:

• Baraga – sit down and delivery at St. Ann Catholic Church

• Calumet – delivery from CLK Schools; sit down at Sacred Heart Church

• Hancock – sit down at Church of Resurrection

• Houghton – sit down at St. Ignatius Church; delivery from Grace United Methodist Church

• Ontonagon – sit down and delivery at Holy Family Catholic Church

• South Range – delivery from Grace Lutheran Church

• Tapiola – sit down and delivery at Doelle Senior Center

Sit-down meals are served at 1 p.m., and delivery of meals will occur between noon and 2 p.m. Reservations are required for both services on Christmas Day.

To become a holiday volunteer, complete a form online at https://houghton.littlebrothers.org/volunteer-registration/.