Celebrating St. David’s Day with an Intergenerational Planting Event

On March 1st, 2025, our volunteer ambassadors gathered at the Salvation Army Southview and Terrace location in South Vancouver for a heartwarming afternoon of planting, live music, games, and meaningful connections. The event, held in celebration of St. David’s Day—a Welsh holiday—provided a space where seniors and volunteers could come together, share stories, and engage in an interactive planting activity.

Originally, we planned to plant sunflowers, but considering mobility limitations, we decided to offer a variety of planting kits, including daisies, sunflowers, and parsley, allowing seniors to choose what they wanted to plant. With 10 dedicated volunteers and 13 seniors in attendance, each volunteer was paired with a senior to provide assistance throughout the planting process. To encourage deeper connections, volunteers were also provided with conversation prompts to spark engaging discussions. It was particularly special to have Welsh seniors in attendance who shared their culture and heritage with us.

Adding to the warm atmosphere, one of our talented volunteers played live piano music, creating a lively and inviting environment. After the planting session, refreshments provided by Superstore were served, and later seniors had the opportunity to personalize their pots with stickers. Each senior received an aftercare sheet for their chosen plant and was gifted a daffodil in honor of St. David’s Day.

Leading up to the event, we were initially unsure how well the volunteers and seniors would connect, but our volunteers did an incredible job fostering genuine friendships and brightening the seniors’ day. The smiles on their faces confirmed the positive impact of this gathering, and many seniors expressed interest in having us return for future events—something we would be honored to do.

This event was a beautiful reminder of the power of intergenerational connection, and we are grateful for the opportunity to create a space where seniors feel valued and heard. We look forward to continuing our volunteer efforts in building meaningful relationships within our community.

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