It’s a win-win as seniors, kids team up for bingo at The Helm

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — Kids and seniors bonded over the universal thrill of yelling “bingo” and picking out prizes June 6 at The Helm at the Boll Life Center in Grosse Pointe Farms.

In what has become an annual tradition, second graders from Sarah Neely’s class at Maire Elementary School in Grosse Pointe City were paired with senior partners to play bingo.

“We’re trying to do more intergenerational programming,” Helm Executive Director Krista Siddall said. “It benefits our seniors in health outcomes and our kids in socialization and knowledge. It benefits our community because we’re raising kids that have an understanding of our history and respect for their elders and teaching them to be compassionate adults.”

Siddall said the smiles on the faces of the kids and the seniors said it all.

“They’re learning to work together,” Siddall said.

Neely said she started doing this about 15 years ago, when The Helm was known as Services for Older Citizens and it was housed in the Neighborhood Club, just around the corner from Maire. She said they used to do this several times a year, but since the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become an annual event. The students also write letters during the year to Helm seniors.

“When I started it, I called it ‘Partners in Time,’” Neely said of her play on the phrase, “partners in crime.” “It actually winds up being the perfect combination. The kids like to help people. The seniors like to help them.”

The students — accompanied by Neely and some parent chaperones — still walk to meet up with the seniors, but now that journey is about a mile, so they were grateful to have a pleasantly warm and sunny spring day for it.

The kids emerged with more than a colorful new Beanie Baby — the prizes for the students.

“I think it increases their empathy for others,” Neely said. “It also roots and connects them to the community. It opens up their mind to what a friend can be. … It’s really enriched the lives of both the children and the older citizens in our community.”

Connie Harris, of Roseville, one of the seniors, said she loved “everything” about playing bingo with the children.

“They’re wonderful kids,” Harris said. “They’re sweet, too.”

Senior Ethel Wilson, of Detroit — who was on a hot streak, winning multiple rounds of bingo — was even more enthused about being with the youngsters than about going home with an armful of prizes.

“I enjoyed it,” Wilson said. “It’s the best.”

The students had a great time, too.

Walt Miller, 8, discovered that his senior partner was a fellow resident of Fisher Road.

“I liked playing with Brian,” Miller said. “He was really nice. I liked learning about him.”

There’s a lot of tension on social media among the generations — Gen Z vs. the Millennials, the Millennials and Gen Z vs. the Baby Boomers, etc. — but none of that was evident at The Helm.

“We want it to be a win-win where we’re bringing our joy and they’re bringing their wisdom,” Neely said. “It’s a great situation.”