Contributed HOLIDAY SPIRIT — Jefferson County Joint Vocational School Transition to Work students Alaina Warren, left, and Hannah Hendrix prepare cards and snowflake ornaments to send to residents at local nursing homes.

BLOOMINGDALE — Transition to Work students at Jefferson County Joint Vocational Center are spreading joy by sending Christmas cards and ornaments to local nursing homes.

Instructor Jennifer Davis said her pupils have been as busy as elves writing messages and signing cards while also creating snowflake ornaments as small tokens of kindness for the holiday. Plans are to distribute the cards in time for Christmas at facilities including Sienna Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation in Wintersville and Gables Care Center in Hopedale, but more sites may be included.

“It was National Christmas Card Day (on Dec. 9) and we decided to make Christmas cards for local nursing homes,” Davis said. “We are writing over 100 cards and including small ornaments and it’s one of our acts of kindness activities.”

She said it was the first time the class completed the project and they were as jolly as Santa Claus to brighten the residents’ lives.

“I like doing them because we’re spreading Christmas to people,” said junior Hannah Hendrix. “We’re giving people happiness and Christmas cheer.”

“It makes me feel happy,” added senior Alaina Warren. “We’re supporting the nursing homes and making cards and helping people.”

Davis said she was contacting other local facilities to possibly send more supportive messages to their residents.