OBERLIN, Ohio — “I just want them to know that they have somebody there for them,” said Ariel Reese, Lorain County JVS Senior. 
 
Ariel Reese is a student at the Lorain County Joint Vocational School in Oberlin. She and some of her classmates are bringing a virtual connection to senior citizens who are feeling lonely due to the pandemic.  

“I’ve seen firsthand what they felt and how lonely they felt, i personally know how it feels not to have somebody and so I just like to make them feel like even though I might not be a family member or might just be seeing them for 5 seconds a day, I like to let them know they have someone,” Reese said.  
  
The students are trained to be hospice volunteers and each week they have created activities to keep the senior residents engaged.

Susan Wallace is their instructor.  
 
“The challenge to come up with some virtual activities or some things we could drop off and enable the projects to still go on," said Wallace.  
 
Once the students joined forces with Hospice of the Western Reserve, they were ready to remind residents that they are valued and appreciated. 

“When the students come in and engage with them, it really stimulates them, it gets them laughing and smiling, it changes a lot if things, I think, for the students. One of the biggest benefits I see is they are not focused on a task. They are engaging with people, really getting to know something about them,” said Carole Klingler, RN, BSN, Team Leader and Community Facility Coordinator for Hospice of the Western Reserve.
  
Reese says after her recent experience, she’ll continue to volunteer even when the pandemic is over.  
 
“I love this. It makes me feel absolutely amazing. I was telling my teacher that every single time i go there my heart is so happy,” said Reese.