“If you could have any three things, what would you want?” Eleven-year-old, Ruby began asking this question to senior citizens at a nursing home in Arkansas. The responses, she learned, were not that grand. The responses were much more practical. It was usually food-related like Dr. Pepper or sausage or cake. It was also based on needs like bigger shirts, an electric razor or new shoes.
So, she did what any good-natured 11-year-old child would do. She started her own charity entitled, “3 Wishes for Ruby’s Residents.” She started a “Go Fund Me” Page to cover the costs. Turns out, it’s not that expensive. She goes room to room, asking her favorite question. She then tries her hardest to make those wishes come true.
When asked why she does it, Ruby responded, “It lifts you. It really does.” She is also having major impact on the senior citizens too. They smile. They laugh. They hug. They cry.
Joe’s Perspective: This story is such a reminder that everyone wants to be loved…cherished…remembered. Most people don’t need the fastest car or the newest toy. When really matters is human connection. These senior citizens have lived a long life. They probably don’t have much. Everything they own is in one room. Yet, one little girl goes out of her way to provide them with attention. It seems to make all the difference. Pretty cool!
Your Turn: What small thing can you do for someone in your life to help them feel loved and appreciated?
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I am SO hoping someone from Ruby’s Residents will contact me to see if I could open a branch of Ruby’s Residents in Bend, Oregon. I am newly retired with lots of time on my hands and I would LOVE to start Ruby’s
Residents here. Please, please contact me!!
Deb.douglas0808@gmail.com
We have started this project in Decorah Iowa with our alternative/behavioral school. We attend weekly and have made wished come true now for 6 residents. We fund by taking cans back and loose change. The residents love us!
I can do something small for them like give people who are feeling sad, hugs every day to make them feel happy and loved by someone. I can be very loving and caring to every person that I see every day. I can be affectionate towards every person who walks by me. I can just help them and make them happier. I can give people something to make their day brighter. I can make a big difference in the world just by doing small, kind things to everyone especially to people who are angry or sad.
Their are many people who suffer from diseases like Alzheimer’s , and every year at my moms job we have a walk,hosted by the Alzheimer’s association. We hold annual runs and walks, with food,games, and purple flowers (purple is the color for Alzheimer’s). All the money goes too finding a cure. My mom works at a nursing home and i meet a lot of people their with Alzheimer’s they forget the names of their children, the people who work there, and even my name.
You can never get mad for having Alzheimer’s, you have too be patient with them, i help out at her job all the time like, planning parties, sealing mail, giving out food, cleaning out rooms, playing with the elderly, and helping with arts and crafts.
i think this is something that we should all do because it really makes a person happy and its really nice of her that she is getting stuff that they wanted and i love how she made them smile.
I think about this as a gift and that we should have more people that do good things in the community and to other people. Having the the feeling that somebody loves and cares for you is the best feeling ever and nothing can trade that in life. Also Human are so greedy seeing this could put them in place that nothing can be better than love and passion. Not everything comes to you from a tree working hard and loving gets you there having this in mind can help you for ever and its something that you enjoy having in life. Overall this really made me happy.
making a wall in public so everyone can see and write their names and tell them + what she did for I can help them and I will pray with them to bless them and let GOD take them to heaven.