Our little Elf on a Shelf has been busy this year and is ready for the season of giving. Epworth Villa Resident, Nancie Webb is known for her compassion, generosity, and love for children.
Webb has been knitting hats that were to be used at a particular school. The hats were to be reading incentives distributed by the librarian. Several Residents visited the school prior to the pandemic and established relationships with the students. When the safer at home order was issued and schools began virtual learning, Webb kept working. She took it upon herself to contact RestoreOKC.
Kristen Hannam, Director of Restore Schools said, “I met Nancie last year when I came to Epworth Villa to share about RestoreOKC and the work we do to see equitable education in NEOKC. Our vision was connecting our students who come from hard places with the wisdom and gentle nature of older adults. Miss Nancie was quick to get involved as she was a former remedial reading specialist, and she has a passion for youth. She and many of the residents at Epworth Villa were regularly at Britton Elementary reading with the 1st grade students last spring and fall. Then COVID happened and volunteers were no longer allowed in the building. Nancie has continued to stay connected to the librarian at Britton and reached out to share that she had 50 hats she has knitted and would like to offer them to the students. Specifically, as gifts for hitting reading goals while virtually learning. We picked up the hats last week and they are GORGEOUS! We are so excited to offer them to our students. She said she will continue to knit hats! We are so blessed to have her as a partner in the schools and thankful for the ways she uses her gifts and talents to bless others! She is a GEM!
I also must share that Rev. Marsha Purtell was also a wonderful gift to our students at Britton Elementary. We are all grieving with you as we heard the news of her recent passing. Marsha was pivotal in RestoreOKC having a partnership with Epworth Villa and was my main contact for our partnership. She was a joy and filled with so much life and light. We are so thankful for the many “grand-friends” we made at Epworth Villa! Your residents are an incredible bunch!”
