Primrose Retirement Community surprise students at Meridian with 'Random Acts of Kindness'

Feb. 19—Handing out bags of candy, cookies and gift cards may not seem like much, but this small act of kindness brought smiles to many students' faces.

Four residents and two staff members from Primrose Retirement Community in Stillwater surprised students and staff Friday at Meridian Technology Center with a "Random Acts of Kindness" day.

The residents and staff members from Primrose passed out gift bags to students as they left classes. The event has been happening as long as Primrose has been located in Stillwater — about 11 years — and each Primrose community across the state celebrates the same event.

It was the first time for Dee Johnson and Joyce Shreffler to attend the "Random Acts of Kindness" day. They both helped prepare the gift bags and then decided to join the group at Meridian.

Johnson, who uses a walker, said she wanted to come out to see "all the kids."

"We look at each other every day," Shreffler said.

"Yeah, we want to see somebody young," Johnson said, laughing.

The two are involved with activities at Primrose, but also go out to attend other events.

"Many people don't drive anymore, so it's nice just to get out," Shreffler said.

David and Darlene Noden have been attending the event for at least five years and acted as guides to other residents who attended.

Primrose residents tried out different combinations of candy and gift cards to give out, and the cookies were a new selection this year.

"We're here to see also the response — what do they really like?" Darlene said.

The Nodens have lived at Primrose since 2016, and David, 85, keeps busy working in the non-denominational chapel, while Darlene, 84, leads a Bible study.

Both served as teachers in Kenya, East Africa, with the Africa Inland Mission for 20 years.

"Both of us love this ... event, because we worked with college students, we worked with high school students," David said. "... Coming and meeting kids like this, at this age — I love that. I love to know what they think, where they're going."

David spoke with a student studying digital media, and said he enjoyed the conversation even though he didn't really know what digital media was.

"It's something completely out of my generation," David said, laughing.

David, who is a resident ambassador at Primrose, said he and his wife had never worked with seniors before, and that took some getting used to.

"But we love it, because wherever God puts us, we enjoy that sort of thing very much," David said. "...There is a restful satisfaction that comes from (giving back)."

He said he and his wife Darlene moved to Stillwater, hoping to be a help at Primrose.

"I'm in my eighties, but I didn't particularly come here to retire," David said. "...I want to be useful, especially for the Kingdom, for the Lord. ...I think I would be very disappointed if I (woke) up in the morning and didn't have a challenge of some sort."

Kaylee Mullins, life enrichment coordinator at Primrose, said the staff likes to keep their residents as busy as possible because the residents' mental and physical health is of the utmost importance to staff.

Mullins planned several one-hour time slots every week for the last three weeks, where residents and staff gathered to put the gift bags together.

"They love giving back to the community, and community outreach is very important to us," Mullins said.

She said a stomach virus among the residents prevented some from attending the day's activity.

Mullins and other staff coordinate four outings per month, which include a ladies night out and trips to places such as Oklahoma City museums, the Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks and Stillwater-based businesses.

Stillwater High sophomores Sherry Wang and Akua Nuamah, who are both pre-engineering majors at Meridian, said they liked seeing the seniors giving out the gift bags.

"I love it, it's so cute to me," Nuamah said. "Sharing stuff can really brighten someone's day."