Shandy Nichols, left, Absolut Care of Westfield staff member, received a large box of puzzles and pencils for Absolut residents from Patty Benton, Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club Community Service Chair. Benton and fellow Rotarian Steve Stratton delivered jigsaw puzzles, puzzle books and pencils donated by members of the Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club to this and four other local nursing homes for their residents.

Two Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville members delivered a large collection of jigsaw puzzles, crossword and word search puzzle books, and pencils to five area nursing homes earlier this month.

The items were donated by members and friends of this Rotary Club. Rotarian Patty Benton, Club Community Service Chair and Puzzles Project Chair, and Rotarian Steve Stratton divided the items and delivered them to the facilities for the benefit of their residents.

A total of 42 jigsaw puzzles, 39 puzzle books and 50 pencils were divided for and delivered following CDC guidelines to Absolut Care of Westfield, Chautauqua Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Dunkirk, Dunkirk Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Dunkirk, Fredonia Place in Fredonia, and St. Columban’s On the Lake Retirement Home in Silver Creek.

Benton said, “The Westfield-Mayville Rotarians hope that the puzzles will help to brighten the days of these facilities’ residents and provide them with something to do. Since the pandemic began, these folks have not been able to have in-person visitations from family members and relatives, if they have any. Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville members believe that these donations will help to alleviate the day-to-day boredom that the residents are experiencing while they are in isolation.”

It should be noted that the facilities requested that jigsaw puzzles preferably be new (or gently used and with all pieces), with large, easy grip pieces, and have 300 pieces or less.

Puzzles that are adaptive and suitable for those with dementia and Alzheimer’s are particularly welcome.

These puzzles have simpler images, large pieces and contain less than 75 pieces. For more information about this project, please contact Patty Benton at patty.benton@gmail.com.