LAPLACE — High school seniors find common ground with senior citizens through a unique holiday service project at West St. John High School.

Four years ago, Yish Edwards realized high school students born and raised on the West Bank had little understanding of St. John the Baptist Parish history.

“I want them to hear the stories of senior citizens who have grown up on the West Bank,” Edwards said. “It’s a way for our high school seniors to learn a little bit about the history from real people with real-life stories. I want them to leave high school with a little bit of appreciation.”

Through the annual Give Thanks to Our Seniors project, soon-to-be high school graduates have a chance to sit down with senior citizens in the community for a semiformal one-on-one interview. Students are then tasked with writing an extra credit essay where they must identify one shared childhood experience that has crossed generations.

The exercise also encourages students to reflect on their own life experiences and how the West Bank community has molded them into who they are today. First, students take 48 hours to reflect on their childhood. On day three, they begin writing entries in a Life Reflection Journal of thoughts and memories.

After five days of making entries, students should be able to identify one major accomplishment or experience. Students then answer a set of five questions detailing their happiest memories growing up in St. John Parish/their hometown, a least happy memory, accomplishments in the past 12 years, changes made in the community and advice to the freshman class.

Once meeting a new senior citizen friend, students take an opportunity to listen, learn and say, “Thank you for paving the way to a better today.”

According to Edwards, seniors tell students about how their family arrived in St. John Parish, where they were born and raised and their parents’ and grandparents’ education and occupation. Seniors also tell students about their family’s history in college or the military, their greatest accomplishment and how life looked when they were children attending local schools.

In addition to befriending some of the most treasured members of the community, West St. John seniors brighten senior citizens’ spirits with holiday food baskets.

By participating in the project, students receive 50 service hours needed for graduation, according to Edwards. The food drive is conducted in coordination with Second Harvest Food Bank.

Food collections start Wednesday, Oct. 9, and continue through Nov. 16. By the end of the service project, high school seniors will have prepared Thanksgiving meal boxes containing Cornish chickens, stuffing, a pound of rice, vegetables and desserts.

Edwards checks with participating students week-by-week to track their progress and answer any questions.

Approximately 45 seniors receive food baskets each year, according to Edwards.

“The seniors will fill out an application,” Edwards said. “It’s based on income, one box per household.”

Senior citizens and students also receive an invitation to a Give Thanks to Our Senior Brunch, Edwards said.

Donations may be dropped off at the following locations: West St. John High School, the St. John Parish District Attorney’s Office and the St. John Parish Assessor’s Office.

Monetary donations are also welcome. Checks can be made payable to the 501c3 nonprofit River Region Children’s Association P.O. Box 76 Edgard, LA 70049.

For more information, contact Edwards by phone at 504-758-4086 or by email at yedwards@rrcala.org.

Edwards is working on a separate project with East St. John instructor Derron Cook to compare seniors’ experiences growing up on the East Bank versus the West Bank.

“Even when they grew up around the same time, when they talk about it, it sounds like two different worlds,” Edward said.

She anticipates finalizing interviews for that project in the upcoming months.