On Wednesday, February 18th, Erin Fink’s Pre-Kindergarten class visited The Flower Shop, Memorial Hospital and the Hancock County Nursing Home in Carthage. Jerilyn Miller, the owner of The Flower Shop, showed the children how she puts together flower arrangements. She taught them the names of several flowers and showed them different supplies she uses. After a quick tour around the store, each child left with a carnation in hand and many more to deliver to the nursing home residents.

At Memorial Hospital the children met Teri Twaddle who is the hospital medical staff coordinator. Teri and Dirk Tweedell showed the children the emergency room and all the equipment that is used to save people’s lives. At the lab, Cyndy Wollbrink talked about how and why people give and get blood. Judy Reed showed the children several x-rays of a spine, head, chest and even a shoe! Then Teri showed the children the infant & child hospital room were people like them would stay if they were sick. After our last stop at the cardiopulmonary room to talk to Nancy Krekel about how she checks people’s heart beats and rhythms, it was on to the nursing home.

At the Hancock County Nursing Home, Greta Wetzel, assistant activity director, greeted the children and helped them pass out flowers and homemade valentine cards to each resident. Greta gave the children a treat to eat and showed them the pets that live at the nursing home. The kids were so excited to meet the dog and cat and look at all the birds. Lastly, Greta taught the children a parachute game she uses to help the residents strengthen their upper body muscles.