Submitted by Brianna Emery

NRHS DECA president

What a difference a day makes. One group of Nansemond River High School students know just how true these words can be.

On Friday morning, members of NRHS’s DECA, along with their teachers, gathered in front of the Autumn care Nursing Home on Pruden Boulevard to spread holiday cheer to the residents. Dedicating the entire morning, the group visited each resident and sang songs.

The DECA members prepared and distributed a goodie bag for each resident. The bag consisted of soap, shampoo, conditioner, and lotion. They also prepared 30 bags with additional toiletry articles for residents in need.

NRHS marketing teacher Mrs. S. Michele Duncan said her students decided to participate because it gave them the perfect opportunity to show some of the positive effects young people can have in our society. The students also wanted to encourage volunteerism that has a significant impact within the community.

This is the 14th year that NRHS DECA has gone to Autumn Care Nursing Home. Prior to that, Duncan worked 10 years at Suffolk High School. Each year the DECA members would visit the residents at Autumn Care.

&uot;I want to give the DECA members an opportunity to visit and appreciate the residents,&uot; said Duncan. &uot;The DECA members have gone to Autumn Care Nursing Home for the past 24 years.&uot;

&uot;This project has come to symbolize that one special time that encourages people to get into the communities in which they live,&uot; said DECA President Brianna Emery, &uot;and do something above and beyond that which they already might be doing.&uot;

The project participants received some help from local sponsors including Hardees and Pizza Hut in Suffolk.

&uot;You can make a difference,&uot; said Emery. &uot;The resident as well as the community will benefit from these efforts.&uot;

The DECA co-advisors are J.B. Varney and Mrs. S. Michelle Duncan.