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Young Bible reader a hit with elderly: 5-year-old shares her reading time with nursing home residents |
| BL » News » Young Bible reader a hit with elderly: 5-year-old shares her reading time with nursing home residents |
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July 10, 2004 |
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This article by Renee Busby, Religion News Service, was reprinted with permission from the July 10, 2004, edition of The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer.
FAIRHOPE, Ala. -- Hannah Denham has been practicing her reading. But she doesn't always sit at home in her room to read her favorite stories. Instead, she shares them with strangers.
Since February, the 5-year-old Spanish Fort School kindergartner has been going to Beverly Healthcare Eastern Shore once a week to read to patients from her children's version of the Bible.
"I like to do it because the residents are very special to me, because they let me love on them," said the soft-spoken child, clutching her Bible outside the facility before going to read.
On a recent visit, Hannah sat on a sofa between two residents and opened her Bible to read the "Crossing the Red Sea" story.
Her shoulder-length hair pulled up on top of her head with a bow, Hannah read the story as the two women patted the little girl and stroked her hair.
Hannah's mother, Pam Denham, remembers her own mother taking her to a nursing home to read to residents, and how much she enjoyed the experience.
"I always wanted to do it with Hannah," Denham said.
When the volunteer coordinator from Beverly called her church looking for volunteers to visit the residents, Denham took it as a sign.
Betty Jackson, Beverly's recreational service director and volunteer coordinator, said she was surprised at how comfortable Hannah is with the residents, and how she remembers all their names. "She has a really tender heart and just loves on them," Jackson said. "And the excitement I see on her face -- she's not frightened by them."
Denham said her daughter not only reads to the residents, but also pushes them in wheelchairs and even feeds one lady who can't feed herself.
Said the proud mother: "I've told Hannah that all these people had dreams, had children, had a life and don't ever forget it."
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