Families participate in Shaping Lives Program, enjoy time

Violet Gaston is more than a resident of Fort Scott Manor, she is a mother, grandmother and a great-grandmother.

Through the Shaping Lives Program, Gaston has been given the opportunity to go visit her great-granddaughter at her school. Gaston's great-granddaughter, Burkley Chavis, is in third grade and participated in the Shaping Lives Program in Rusty Gordon's art class.

Gaston said she was very excited to participate in the Shaping Lives Program. Having multiple grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was used to being around the children.

"I couldn't hardly wait to go back," said Gaston.

The children were also very glad to have Gaston in their class. Gaston said that she accidentally dropped paint on a little boy's shoe so she told him that if he wanted to, he could put paint on her arm. She said the boy looked at her like he thought she was joking then put some paint on her arm and they laughed.

"Made me go back to when my kids were little," said Gaston.

Chavis was the most excited of all the students because she got to spend time with her great-grandmother. Gaston said Chavis's eyes would get big when she would first see her great-grandmother in her classroom. Chavis also said that she enjoyed her classmates asking her questions about her great-grandmother, adding that it made her feel special.

Most of all, Chavis was excited because she was able to spend more time with her great-grandmother.

"I got to see her more, talk to her more and do lots of things with her," said Chavis.

Through the Shaping Lives Program, Gaston and Chavis have another memory to share.