2020 CitrusPeel Gold Edition

In order to increase awareness among
teens, Kelly created brochures and made
them available in her high school and at
local public libraries. As she spoke with
students and adults, she learned that many
people have loved ones with Alzheimer’s
or Dementia and that they shared similar
struggles with feeling helpless. Many shared
that they were inspired to create a box for
a close family member. It also helped to be
able to talk with someone else who was
going through the same torment and pain.
In doing research for the project, Kelly found
a lack of resources or information available
for youth. She even found that a person
must be 18 or older to volunteer at the local
Alzheimer’s Association. Since becoming
involved, Kelly is seeing more youth-focused
information on the association’s website,
with resources and explanations specifically
targeted to youth.
Alzheimer’s is a terrible disease and affects
whole families and Kelly knew firsthand
the helplessness young people feel when
coping with day-to-day life and academics
while seeing a loved one’s memory gradually
fade away. Kelly wanted her Gold Award to
preserve her grandmother’s memory and
make her proud. It took a while to put the
project together, but now Kelly knows that
Mary’s Memory Boxes perfectly capture her
Grammy’s artistic creativity.
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