FAIRHOPE, Alabama (May 9, 2012) – The Eastern Shore Art Center received a $5470 grant for its Senior-to-Senior program from the Clyde C. Snyder Art & Classical Music Field of Interest Fund of The Community Foundation of South Alabama. During the 2012-2013 school year, the Senior-to-Senior Program will link students from the Fairhope High School’s AP an IB Art Club with senior living and adult day programming.

A select group of students will complete special training classes, which will teach them how to relate to senior citizens with special needs including dementia. Many situations require adapting presentations at the last minute to accommodate unique limitations.

The program will be planned and supervised by ESAC’s Community Outreach Director, Nancy Raia and Fairhope High School’s Advanced Placement Art Teacher, Lynda Williams. However, it will be the students who will work side-by-side with the senior citizens. Through conversation and interaction of the art projects the generations will come together and learn from each other.

Fairhope High School’s rising senior art student, Emma Hunter, has been a volunteer with the Art Center’s Outreach Program for over a year. She is looking forward to working with the senior citizens and has said, “I love the stories they tell and just being with them. I have learned a lot about being patient.”

The Eastern Shore Art Center is located in downtown Fairhope at 401 Oak Street. The Gift store and Galleries are open Tuesday through Friday, 10am to 4pm and Saturday, 10am to 2pm. For more information call 251.928.2228 ext.103