Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, January 30, 1995 TAG: 9502020006
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: NANCY GLEINER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Age: 12
School: Addison Aerospace Magnet Middle School, Roanoke
Year: Sixth grade, Challenge Program (for the gifted)
What he does: Keith volunteers at Brandon Oaks Health Care Center in Roanoke. He hands out snacks, takes wheelchair-bound patients to activities, plays games with residents and visits with them outside in good weather.
Most of all, Keith enjoys spending time with the senior citizens.
The age difference is not a barrier to Keith's interaction with them. ``We have things in common,'' he said. ``I talk and joke around with them just as I would with my friends.
``I couldn't believe people that age could be that much fun. I've made friends with lots of them, men and women.''
Melba Pirkey of Roanoke, who nominated Keith, noticed him at Brandon Oaks when she was visiting her brother there.
``It was so unusual to see a 12-year-old boy sitting and talking to older men and ladies and entertaining them,'' she said. ``You so seldom see young people at a nursing home. He talked to them just like an adult would, and he had sympathy for them. He's the only young person I've seen there on his own. He just goes around and talks to everyone.''
Sharon Wright, activity director at Brandon Oaks, said Keith is ``a really good self-starter. Some kids you have to nudge along, but as soon as I suggest one or two things for him to do, he finds something else to do when he's done.
``He's always been real enthusiastic and really seems to enjoy talking to the residents and learning from them. He's a good listener and lets them tell their stories.''
Other activities:At home, Keith is responsible as well, helping to take care of his grandmother, doing household chores and caring of his 3-year-old brother, Jeremy.
An honor student ``most of the time,'' Keith is on the Odyssey of the Mind team, yearbook committee and plays baritone in the school band.
An avid chess player, Keith has won medals and trophies in tournaments, including the Southwest Virginia regional tournament last year. He sometimes plays chess with the Brandon Oaks residents.
At the end of each summer, he helps teachers prepare their rooms for the opening of school, and helps them clean up and close down when school ends.
What he's learned: ``Old people aren't really old. I enjoy communicating with them. If they don't have someone to be with them, sometimes they get bored.''
Seeing the enjoyment he brings to others ``makes me feel great.'' It surprises Keith that he has such a good rapport with the senior citizens.
Obstacles: ``Some of the people living at Brandon Oaks aren't very friendly. I just try to go along with what people seem to need.''
The Kids' Hall of Fame, a new program designed to generate positive news about kids, will award five $10,000 scholarships to program winners this spring.
The annual search is for kids who have made, or are making, a difference - for themselves, their family, school, community, state or country.
Nominees must be age 14 or under. Nomination forms are available at participating Pizza Hut restaurants or by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Nomination Form, The Kids' Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 92477, Libertyville, Ill. 60092. Entries must be submitted by March 15.
Extra Credit nominees must be 12-18 and volunteering of their own choice. If part of a group, the teen must have initiated the activity.
Send in the teen's name, age, phone number, what they're doing, for how long, and how it has helped someone else. Mail nominations to Extra Credit, c/o Features Department, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010
This twice-monthly column spotlights a teen-ager who is using his or her own initiative to make a difference in our neighborhoods, schools and communities. We think they deserve a public thank-you for helping other people. Nominations are sent in by our readers (see guidelines below).
by CNB