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The spectators clutched their betting slips last Thursday afternoon and waited in anticipation as the announcer energetically called the race.

"And they're off!" he bellowed into the microphone. "Horse number one goes two. Horse two goes five. Horse three, three."

The 10 "jockeys" - sixth- through 12th-grade students from LaSalle Institute in Troy - stood behind wooden stick horses, responding to another student's instructions by sliding the figures across the floor tiles. About 20 residents of Van Rensselaer Manor nursing home in Troy watched for the first horse to reach the end of the rectangular course; residents holding winning numbers received small cash prizes.

The "race" was repeated at least a dozen times over the course of an hour. It's one of many activities LaSalle students run when they visit their elderly friends twice a week after school as part of a volunteer program.

More than required
By participating, LaSalle cadets fulfill service requirements needed to graduate - but most of the boys keep going even after they've logged their required number of hours.

"I just like it," said Ryan Valentine, a senior who's been participating twice a week for years. He also volunteers at a youth mentoring program and helps to coach a CYO basketball team. "It just interests me, [and] you can tell [the seniors] enjoy it."

Ryan said some residents recognize him from visit to visit, and they often tell him about children or grandchildren who attended LaSalle. He remembers many conversations, like when he talked with one woman about a piece of jewelry her daughter got her in Italy.

Matthew VanDenburgh, a seventh-grader, has also connected with the residents: "I just ask them how they're doing," he said.

He enjoys running bingo, baseball, bowling, golf, card games and word games. "They don't really see fun that much," Matthew explained. "You get to help the elderly [and] do God's work."

Eighth-grader Patrick Hoffman likes to run the "literacy cart," offering books to residents.

"I guess they like seeing the next generation," Patrick mused, adding that the juice and homemade cookies the home provides during LaSalle visits is a big draw.

"Occasionally they have ice cream," he added. "And pie."

Do the right thing
John Brennan, a sophomore, calls his weekly service at the Manor "very fulfilling. It puts a smile on their face. They really do appreciate what we do."

Ben Grant, the sophomore who announced the horse races, called it doing "the right thing. I get to meet a whole bunch of different people. They'll talk about how LaSalle sports teams are doing. It always feels good to help people. I usually feel closer to God."

Resident Eva Sorell of Ravena enjoys the "anticipation" of "what's going to happen" when the boys visit: "They're young and fun."

Marie Kostenblatt, a Speigletown native, said she "enjoys every minute of it. It's something to do. They're polite."

The LaSalle students are often the only visitors or the only young visitors residents see, said Ted Deeb, an alumnus who's now the school's campus minister.

"A lot of times, the only people who are going to spend time with them are our boys," he said. "Interacting with young people is something that keeps these residents going. They're full of life and they bring a certain level of energy and excitement."

The horse racing is a definite house favorite.

"They'll yell at the jockeys sometimes," Mr. Deeb said with a laugh. "They think it's the students' fault they didn't win."

Lasting impact
Students usually break into groups and lead several activities per visit. Conversation is encouraged, but it's not an "adopt-a-grandparent" situation.

"The kids really love doing it," Mr. Deeb said; many of them reflect on "how lucky they are to be young and healthy. It helps them recognize how blessed they are [and] how much of a need there is out there for people to help other people.

"Every day, we start with a prayer to remind them that we're doing this for Christ and we're being God's hands in the world," he continued. "[I tell them], 'You need to find Christ in the neediest. If you can do that, we're doing something right here."

Up to 30 students volunteer at the Manor each week; about 80 will pass through its doors in a year. The partnership began in the mid-1980s. It's now one of several volunteer options for LaSalle students, along with raking leaves or working at ziti dinners for the Sisters of St. Joseph, managing weekly food collections at school and mentoring needy elementary school children in Troy once a week. In the latter program, LaSalle juniors and seniors help younger children with homework and reading and play games for an hour.[[In-content Ad]]

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