Ruby Kate is 11 years old, but her young age has not prevented her from carrying out a exciting project that has captivated us all reminding us of the importance of knowing how to listen, empathize with those around us and enjoy the little things in life.
It all started when Ruby decided to visit her mother at her workplace. The woman is a geriatric nurse, and carries out her work in five nursing homes in Arkansas (United States). At first, the girl was only engaged in conversing with the elders, listening to them and making their day happy by sharing anecdotes. But he soon realized that he could do for them much more…
"The extras are the things that make life sweeter"
As Ruby's mother explained in an interview with CNN, in the United States, the elderly who are housed in nursing homes receive $ 40 a month (just over 35 euros) for their personal expenses, as "extras ".
The problem is that many of them you cannot afford all your needs and desires, since this money is sometimes insufficient and they do not have any family support that can solve it.
In Babies and more Living with grandparents in childhood, helps to avoid prejudices towards the elderly Ruby Kate learned about it during one of her visits to her mother, when he noticed the sadness that invaded an old woman called Pearl, who looked absorbed through the window without being able to look away from the glass.
When the girl asked Pearl what attracted her attention so much, the old woman pointed to her puppy, who was walking down the street in the company of a friend who had done him the favor of taking him to the residence so he could enjoy he. But what the old woman really craved was be able to spend more time with your faithful pet, and have enough money to hire a dog sitter to bring it more often.
Then Ruby realized that the "extra pay" was for the elderly much more than a way to pay for their whims: it was the way to achieve happiness.So the girl decided to do something so that both Pearl and the rest of the old men of the residence could enjoy the things in life that really made them happy. And that's how the "Three wishes for the Ruby Residents Project" initiative was born.
Three wishes for each elder
The project "Three desires" began last summer, when the girl picked up in her notebook the three wishes that each of the elders of the residence wanted to see fulfilled. The answers greatly moved Ruby for her simplicity:
"An old man told me that I needed some new pants because the ones he had squeezed him too much. And when I looked, I realized that it was indeed something I urgently needed, because my waistband was stuck in my belly "
"Another lady asked just to be able have a phone in your room, so as not to have to talk to loved ones in front of everyone "
"Another old woman wanted a warm blanket for your bed, others asked for things for their pets, some new shoes, and even asked to eat McDonald's chips. "
"There were also some elderly people with correctable hearing problems who wish to be able to buy a hearing aid to listen better to their relatives when they came to visit them. And a woman in a wheelchair told me that all I wanted was to spend a day at a water park and enjoy watching children have fun "
Ruby Kate's notebook was filled with wishes that he is gradually fulfilling thanks to altruistic donations and to the collaboration of his mother, who is helping him develop the project and is responsible for making the purchases that the elderly are asking for.
During this time, Ruby has delivered small televisions for the rooms, colorful paintings to decorate the white walls of the residences, chocolate bars and other snacks that she has distributed with the help of her brothers, and even dolls that accompany and help many people with dementia
The initiative has been extended to the five residences where Ruby's mother works, filling a hundred elders with happiness that they are seeing their modest wishes fulfilled, and that they cannot find the words to thank Ruby for everything he is doing for them.
In Babies and more How to educate our children in peace and non-violence The "Three wishes" project has a campaign in GoFundMe with which more than $ 67,000 has been raised, and a list on Amazon with some of the items requested by the elderly.
It is really exciting to be able to share this kind of stories starring children, whose kindness and generosity leads them to do huge things for others. Children that tomorrow will become respectful and committed young people with those around them.
Via CNN
