| Contacts: | Marci Donovan
Recreation Therapy Supervisor
412-429-3163 | Barbara Bush
AARP
412-350-3711 |
More photos posted below.
Bunny rabbits filled the John J. Kane Regional Center in Scott Township on April 15.
But instead of hopping through the halls, these bunnies served as prizes for the Kane Scott residents participating in the Western Pennsylvania AARP’s Bunny Bingo event. The stuffed animals brightened the day for approximately 100 residents at Kane Scott.
“This is a sure sign spring finally is coming to Kane Scott,” said Marci Donovan, Recreation Therapy Supervisor at Kane Scott. “The Bunny Bingo added some variety to a popular game our residents really enjoy. We truly are grateful to the AARP for bringing Bunny Bingo to Kane Scott.”
Barbara Bush, volunteer development task force chair for AARP in Western Pennsylvania, hopes to expand the Bunny Bingo events in the future. Kane Scott and Kane in Ross Township each participated this year and plans are in the works to add Kane Glen Hazel to the Bunny Bingo mix.
“The Bunny Bingo is something AARP of Pennsylvania is doing and the Allegheny County Kanes are doing to give us an opportunity to get into the units and bring something a little different to the residents,” Bush said. “The residents seem to enjoy this event very much. Last year we had our first one at Kane Ross and it was so rewarding and people were so happy.”
Bunny Bingo in some ways is an extension of two other successful AARP programs that are traditionally held in conjunction with the Kane centers. Presents for Patients provides Kane residents at all four centers gifts each December. The Christmas in July event has also been a hit at Kane Ross. Both events provide gifts for residents and brighten spirits throughout the regional centers.
“While we were doing Presents for Patients we found we were getting a lot of bunnies,” Bush explained. “Bunnies aren’t really associated with Christmas so we started saving those up.”
Eventually, those stuffed animals led to the creation of “Bunny Bingo.”
Volunteers are needed to call the bingo letters and numbers, help with bingo cards and distribute prizes.
“We try to bring a little joy into the residents’ lives,” Bush said. “I’d like to see it grow. Hopefully next year we can do Glen Hazel as well.”
For more information, contact Marci Donovan, Kane Scott Recreation Therapy Supervisor, at 412.429.3163, or Barbara Bush, volunteer development task force chair for AARP, at 412.761.1549.