Millis Girl's Birthday Party Gives Back to New Pond Residents

When Tess Hanson asked her daughter, Lilly, what she wanted to do for her ninth birthday this year, her answer surprised the Millis, Mass., mom. She didn’t want a party at her local fun center or her favorite restaurant. Instead, Lilly said, “I want to help out at a senior living community.”

From events like The Birthday Party Project’s Share Your Birthday, where people can sign up to help throw a party for a homeless child living in a shelter, birthday parties that give back are all the rage these days. But Lilly wasn’t motivated by trends. “She has always wanted to help people and bring them joy, so, although I was surprised by her request, I wasn’t shocked,” Tess says. The 9-year-old is active in her Sunday school, through which she has done some community service, and is close to her grandparents.

Upon hearing of Lilly’s request, the team at New Pond Village, a Benchmark continuing care retirement community in Walpole, Mass., whose mission it is to elevate human connection, leapt into action to make the little girl’s wish come true. On April 7, her dream became a reality when she, along with her classmates and about 50 of New Pond’s residents came together in celebration. The group enjoyed pizza and a lunch prepared by the community’s chef, Uwe Werner, followed by cake, bingo and crafts.

The camaraderie was high, so much so that no one would have known that the two groups had never met before and that neither Lilly nor her friends knew a soul at the community before the party. Kids who were shy at first quickly came out of their shell. More reserved residents promptly warmed up, and all were excited to teach the kids how to play bingo and learn about their lives. Many of the residents fell into familiar grandparent roles, fussing over each child to ensure they had enough to eat and drink. Even the children’s parents enjoyed making new friends and discovering commonalities.

“Intergenerational programs are an important part of our focus here so being able to host this was a real treat for all of us,” says Adam Manchester, New Pond’s campus executive director. “Many of our family members host parties here, but we are always looking to foster more programs with young people. We have so much to teach and learn from one another, and this event is proof of that.”

The highlight for Lilly came when she got to grace the stage to call the bingo numbers, a first for the 9-year-old and a popular activity at New Pond. With a little help from the community’s resident caller, she was excited to help everyone fill their cards and lead her current and new friends through a number of wins.

In lieu of gifts to her, Lilly requested gifts be given to the residents. The kids eagerly handed out scores of puzzles, adult coloring books and other memory-boosting games to the community’s residents, who were genuinely touched by the gesture.

At the end, smiles were had all around, and a positive energy was in the air. When Lilly exclaimed, “This is the best party ever! Mom, what are we doing next?” Tess knew her little girl’s birthday wish to bring even more joy to seniors living at New Pond Village had come true.