As the new school year resumes, the cycle of intergenerational friendships continues between Holy Family Parish Middle School students and those lunching at the White Center Salvation Army Senior Center. The 6th, 7th and 8th grade classes alternate and participating kids visit the seniors every other week.

“Many students have already built relationships with certain seniors over the years,” said Salvation Army’s Janeece Talbot who supervises, pointing out that some of the 6th graders who first came in are now in 8th grade.

“They serve the meals, carry groceries, and help in the food pantry, but I think the most important thing is the relationships they’re building,” Talbot said of the students and Senior Center members. “They really care about each other. It’s been fun to watch over the years.”

“We’ve been coming here together for six years,” said Dianne Core, including her companion Doris Reed, neighbors in Tukwila. “The kids get to learn how to associate with the seniors. I think it’s really nice. I learn a lot about them, too. We talk about what they did in the summer, where they live. I tease the girls about finding a boyfriend.”

“My husband used to come here with Dianne and me,” said Reed. He passed away three years ago. “The 8th graders know us by name. The kids are very interesting. We have a lot of fun here.”

“I like interacting with old people,” said David Muriithi, 14, who moved here from Kenyas at age 7. “They have a lot of things to say. I like learning from their wisdom and mistakes when they talk to me. One man here, a cyclone picked up his car and managed to put it on top of his neighbor’s roof. Another fellow tells us war stories.”