Members of Suicide Prevention Committee decorated the exterior of Century Ridge Assisted Living Facility for the holidays for the second year in a row.

Suicide Prevention Committee is a CHS student organization working to shine a light on mental health. 

They put up Christmas lights and signs that read “Happy Holidays” because the committee wants to raise the spirits of the residents who couldn’t have visitors because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They also want to spread holiday cheer.

“The elderly reacted wonderfully. They were all so happy and were very touched to see the community come together and provide something nice for them,” said senior Breanna Kappell, a senior assistant at Century Ridge.

Suicide Prevention Committee put up lights when they could buy them because they received an anonymous 100 dollar donation. 

Last year, the lights were a big hit with the residents and the people that saw them. This year, the committee received 500 dollars from the same anonymous donor, allowing them to put up more lights plus inflatables.

“The elderly loved looking at the lights and other decorations,” Kappell said. “It gave them Christmas spirit, and they enjoyed looking at them.  It reminded a few of their childhood memories and cheered them up.”

The group chose Century Ridge because last year Emily Koehler, a senior at the time, had a friend who worked there.  

Suicide Prevention Committee member Ani McPhaul, a freshman, said she participated in the project to “see (the residents) be happy and making them happy.”  

The “Happy Holidays” signs were donated by Englewood Signs in New Holstein.