PARRISH, Fla. –– A group of high school seniors in Manatee County started a club three years ago where the requirement for membership is to invite a grandma and love on them.
Hence the Grandma Club began.
Sandy Angilly is excited this holiday season to be decorating with a group of multigenerational friends.
As she was crafting an ornament, she said it is a “great experience for someone at my age looking to be taking on something this new.”
She is referring to her new social club.
Sandy moved to Florida from Rhode Island in 2022.
She is a retired nurse who cared for cancer patients and is no stranger to challenging moments.
“Everyone would say, ‘well how could you do that?” she recounted. “Well because maybe you could brighten somebody’s day who is going through a terrible time.”
Mia Polseno is a senior at Parrish Community High School in Manatee County.
With graduation months away, students need to complete community service and other requirements to be eligible for scholarships and other awards. But this requirement is not just a task to check off.
If you listen closely to Mia, she takes after her grandma, Sandy.
“It’s a lot more than just signing off the hours on paper and turning it into the office,” said Mia. “We wanted to do something that we could see make a difference because it brightens our day.”
To create a social network for Sandy as a new Floridian, Mia and a group of her friends created the Grandma Club in 2022.
“I hadn’t had to think about how to make friends in a long time,” said Sandy.
From making Christmas cookies to crafting decorations, the club does more than just bring the ladies together. The ladies meet new friends and spend time with other young women once a month in different social settings.
Other events include making floral arrangements, pottery painting, bracelet making, etc.
“You know what, sometimes it’s good to be put outside of your comfort zone,” said Sandy.
What Mia did not realize is how many other women in the community would appreciate a club like this, such as 92-year-old Marion Balancia.
The high school girls often pick up Marion and give her a ride to the events, which take place once a month.
“It’s nice seeing our acts of kindness like trickle down to areas and people reaching out help us,” said Mia.
Mia is referring to the support the club has received from other organizations and businesses. One of them is the Parrish Fire Department which provides the community room at the fire station where meetings happen.
For Sandy, the time spent in her new social club has translated to new friends. But most importantly, Sandy has shared more time with her granddaughter Mia.
“It’s a wonderful experience all those generations melding together, you know,” she said. “The kids are great.”
Roy De Jesus
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