A group of Hampstead senior citizens recently learned how to write and send e-mails to their grandchildren, thanks to a group of McDaniel Social Work students.

“One of the core values of social work is the importance of human relationships,” says Deborah Goff ’07. “We taught the seniors how to set up their own free e-mail accounts and by the end of the night they were e-mailing each other. They were very excited, and it’s gratifying to know they’ll be in better touch with their families.”

The computer class is one of many activities created by five social work students who call themselves the “Hampstead School Cheerleading Squad.” The name is a little misleading.

The Hampstead School, built in 1919 and on the National Register of Historic Places, was recently converted to senior apartments through a grant from Interfaith Housing Alliance, a non-profit that builds affordable housing. The residence is also supported by Landex and SunTrust. It is now officially known as The Residences at the Hampstead School.

The school’s restored wood floors and multi-paneled windows complete the building’s nostalgic look. More than 100 seniors now call it home.

The Social Work project began with a course assignment to invent community programs. When students came up with a hiking and walking club called Sole Mates, Instructor James Corbin encouraged them to bring the idea to life.

“I immediately thought about our partnership with Interfaith Housing and their project at the Hampstead School,” says Corbin. “I thought this would be the perfect place where Sole Mates could happen.”

The 30-person roster is now almost full. Encouraged, the cheerleaders organized a poetry contest, a potluck dessert, a variety show, have proposed a first annual adopt-a-grandparent day, and will host a nickel bingo. They bring pet therapy dog MacKenzie to visit the residents, are helping to organize a community garden and starting a Karaoke Idol contest.

They even convinced Exercise Science major Josh Peters ’06 to lead a low-impact aerobics course April 10.

“I am a little nervous, yes. But I am feeling good about it,” says Peters. “I think it will be lots of fun, not only for me but for the residents as well. I am taking a class right now called ‘Principles of Exercise Instruction’ so I thought it would be beneficial for me to see what it was like to teach a class.”

Peters is planning to incorporate activities of daily living into the workout.

Housing leaders say they are impressed with the student volunteers.

“Their enthusiasm and energy just took my breath away,” says Property Manager Linda Toutsis. “The seniors are so enthused and so excited that they’re signing up by the loads. I cannot say enough about what the College and what these students have done for the seniors.”

Now the cheerleaders are looking for an Art student to lead an arts and crafts lesson, a Computer Science major to help build a Web site, as well as other volunteers. They’re collecting donations of garden tools for the community garden project.

To donate or volunteer, call Deborah Goff at 410-596-7874.