This year Madison High School’s “Madison Strings” began playing at the Sunrise Assisted Living Home. Morgan Scheier, a junior and active member of the group, shares her service experience.

SG: How did you decide to begin playing at the Sunrise Assisted Living Home?

MS: The strings group I am apart of Madison Strings with Kyle Han, Jose Quiceno, Allison Nevias, David Delevan, and Emma Han began playing at Sunrise Assisted Living Home at the beginning of this school year. We originally played at Morristown Medical Center in the main lobby until recent requirements were added and we no longer could, so we looked for a different location to play at and that’s how we ended up at Sunrise Assisted Living Home.

SG: How often do you Visit the home?

MS: We visit the home about once a month depending on our schedules. We last played there Monday, March 27 and plan to go back mid-April.

SG:How do the residents react when you and your fellow volunteers play?

MS: My favorite part about our visits is seeing the residents’ reactions. It’s such a humbling experience to be able to play for all of these senior citizens and watch them genuinely enjoy the music we play. Many of them approach us after the performance to say how much they enjoyed it and how it made their day, but little do they know that they are the ones who make my day everytime we go there.

SG: Is this something that you plan to continue doing during your senior year? Into college?

MS: I definitely plan to continue through senior year. It may be difficult to continue doing this into college considering many of our members will be headed off to different places, but hopefully the underclassmen involved in our group can continue this program that we started. While I may not be able to play at Sunrise Assisted Living Home in college, I do hope to continue doing volunteer work similar to this in the future.

SG: What have you gotten out of the experience?

MS: I have definitely enjoyed this whole experience and I am so grateful to be a part of it. I think what I have learned the most from it is that even playing a few songs on the violin to senior citizens can have a lasting impact on their day. Being able to see them smile from the front of the room is something I will always treasure.