BIG hearted teenagers got a special thank you from elderly care home residents on World Kindness Day.
Graduates from the Safe in Tees Valley National Citizenship Service (NCS) were invited to Mandale House Care Home so residents could show their gratitude.
The teens spent a week in the summer revamping the home’s garden, in Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees.
They raised funds to refurbish the garden furniture and decking as well as paint a mural on one of the walls.
Seven NCS graduates accepted the invitation to visit the home on World Kindness Day, when they also helped celebrate resident Irene Fleming’s 90th birthday party.
They included Khalil Rehman, Beth Buckley, Eva Gray, Katie Retallack, Mitchell Cox, Hannah Halfacre and Laura Hailes.
A tearful Irene said: “I have never had so many birthday wishes. I loved seeing the youngsters.”
Resident Billy James added: “I want the same thing for my birthday.”
Lorraine Nevison, Safe in Tees Valley graduate coordinator, also visited the home with the graduates.
She said: “These young NCS graduates are encouraged to keep engaged in social action and volunteering after the programme.
“They are remarkable young people who are thoughtful, reliable and want to help others. Well done to all of our NCS graduates.”
Jacqueline Ball, administrator at Mandale House Care Home, said: “We all wanted to use the occasion to thank them personally for all their hard work in the summer.
“They were surprised when we gave them their Rudolph Smarties pack.
“The NCS graduates were great when they visited as well, handing out birthday cake to all residents and then making tea for everyone.
“They were very involved and chatty and brought a kind, positive energy to our early evening.
“All the residents enjoyed their offerings of kindness. Even Marion, one of our residents, accepted cake from the girls – and she doesn’t like cake.”