MARSHALL — Residents in congregate living facilities and the like are taking precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic by keeping to themselves, but people are reaching out to them.

Hill Street Place Senior Living was visited by the Rev. James Allen and his children, Nate, 15, Lydia,13, and Ella, 9, Saturday morning. Allen is a pastor at Swan Lake Church in Cottonwood. The family came armed with masking tape and window paint.

“The four of them began their stained glass painting around 8 a.m.,” said Susie Sammons, the housing manager. “One by one tenants of Hill Street Place enjoyed walking past and watching the process. Many tenants were curious as to what was going on as they taped their outline on the windows. They watched the work while practicing social distancing.”

It was a pleasant respite for the residents.

“It’s been a real uplifting thing as we are self-isolating,” Sammons said. “They are staying in their rooms in their apartments except to walk the halls or get mail. We have closed down all activities.”

Sammons said the family worked together to “create a beautiful mural that will bring everyone who sees it a message of hope through this season. We at Hill Street Place thank the Allens for sharing their love from a distance in a unique and beautiful way.”

Colorful scenes on the windows and there are colorful drawings on the walls with fun messages to read courtesy of Finley and Denise Pelz, a granddaughter and grandmother duo.

Kayleigh Kontz has mailed her baton twirling class, which meets virtually on Zoom, pictures of a bunny for them to color and write a message if they wish to Hill Street residents.

“The staff at Hill Street will pass the colored pictures and messages out to residents,” she said. “My hope is that they become pen pals and can write back and forth to each other. It will give them both something to look forward to while they are spending time inside.”

Kontz said she hopes “when this virus clears up and we get back to a sense of normalcy, the students can go and meet their pen pal and perform their Kindness routine for them. I think they would love that in general, but especially after all of this.”

Other distractions for the residents include seeing little kids stroll by. Amanda Schwartz’s daycare has strolled her tots past the windows to brighten the residents’ day.

“She’s going to come and do sidewalk chalk art sometime,” Sammons said.

Sammons said the staff has made it possible for the residents to go birdwatching.

“We’ve placed 35 pictures of birds on all three floors and given them a list,” she said.“So they can walk around a go look for birds inside.”

The tenants are unable to see their families and friends in the usual way so many are relying on electronic methods to communicate such as using their computers and phones to use applications such as FaceTime.

Kontz said her husband’s grandma, Ann Carver, lives at Hill Street and they talk to her often on the phone. They also call her and let her know they are stopping by to see her.