On Friday 13 June joy and gratitude filled the air at Pinelands Place as elderly residents received an unexpected but deeply-appreciated Father’s Day surprise from the Cannons Creek Independent Primary School outreach team. In a touching act of community care they spent the days leading up to the visit preparing handmade tokens of appreciation, thoughtfully crafted with the intention of honouring father figures who often go unnoticed. From hand-drawn cards to personalised treats, each item reflected the children’s creativity and heartfelt effort.
“It was important to us that the learners understood the value of giving back, especially to the older generation who paved the way for us,” said Deidre McCrindle, one of the outreach coordinators at Cannons Creek. “This initiative wasn’t just about Father’s Day, but about respect, gratitude and human connection.”
Residents at Pinelands Place, many of whom are seldom visited, were visibly moved by the gesture. What began as a simple delivery turned into a morning of heartfelt conversations, laughter and even a few tears of joy.
“I didn’t expect anything for Father’s Day,” said one elderly gentleman, Peter Coredeur, clutching his handmade card. “This just made my whole month, thank you to these wonderful children.”
The school has been committed to teaching learners the importance of community service, and this project is one of many that form part of its growing outreach portfolio.
The Father’s Day initiative not only brought smiles to the faces of Pinelands’ elderly residents, but also gave the young learners a meaningful, real-world experience of empathy and kindness. As the learners waved goodbye many promised to return, not as part of a project, but simply to visit.
“This is how you raise a generation of change makers,” said a staff member at Pinelands Place. “Today, they didn’t just deliver gifts, they delivered love.”
