Passionate For The Elderly Community

Volunteering at the Mary Manning Walsh Nursing Home over the summer was an invaluable experience. As I became more comfortable, I began extending my duties beyond physical tasks such as serving food or transporting residents. I started interacting with the residents on a more personal level, not as a volunteer, but more as a friend. In return, the residents became increasingly open, and the nurses watched as I conversed with residents they had deemed as reserved. Sometimes when I helped residents they would say nothing, but at the same time they said everything I needed to hear. I probably appreciated helping those residents, more than they appreciated me. Every night when I went to bed, I felt I had actually made a difference. This volunteering experience allowed me to realize that whatever I do in life, I want to go to sleep feeling the same way I did that summer.

I believe that one of the most precious things in our lives is our elders. It is sad to see that so many of them are neglected in a day to day bases. As I went through this course I learned so much not only about an issue with aging but also about the many services and organizations that help the elderly. Before this course I knew that there were service out there, but I honestly couldn’t tell you where or what they offered. One agency that I actually volunteered at for the day was the City meals on Wheels. City meals on Wheels is a program that provides meals for elderly whom are homebound in New York City. They provide meals for people in all five boroughs. City meals have been opened since 1981 and 57% of the elderly whom receive meals live alone. 40% of the meals delivered are for the elderly that very rarely or never leave their homes and 66% of their recipients are women.

I was talking to my grandma earlier and I told her my plan and how I was going to give the kids at Children’s Hospital blankets. She said that it was a good idea, but that the hospitals already have a lot of blankets and then she recommended making them for the elderly at Presbyterian Homes who are all one and stuck there. I thought that my grandma’s suggestion was a really good idea and I set a goal for myself to make blankets for Presbyterian Homes. I really enjoyed making the blanket and I learned a lot, and I am looking forward to doing it again tomorrow and this

Being an athlete, involved in school, and outside of school, creating the Elderly Christmas organization has greatly impacted my life. For years, I have always enjoyed helping people whether it be in learning, sports, or just helping complete tasks. My earliest memory of volunteering was at the nursing home that my grandmother worked for; I served residents ice cream in the parlor. Seeing the impact I had on them and the return influence they had on me brought great joy. As time went on, I talked to various veterans and empowering people; I was incredibly grateful to be in their presence. These people I encountered allowed me to become wiser. This program shows one person can make a large impact on people and I am truly grateful for this experience.

I sat and thought “what is a good way to give back to the community, but passionate to me at the same time” so I decided to help my elderly neighbor with some house chores and cleaning our neighborhood. I was determined to do this because I live around a lot of elderly people and I notice how difficult it is for them to do yard work or do the things that they once could. I felt positive about helping one of our elderly out because they can use it at times and even why you are helping out your actually being great company to them. The lady who I volunteered my time to was very friendly and we actually had a great time with each other. I helped her maintain her yard and pack up some things in her home to donate to the Salvation Army. After we got done in her home we took a walk around our neighborhood to clean and recycle things. I felt really good about this because i know i made a difference in the community just by cleaning my neighborhood and accompanied my partner in cleaning her home, it was a wonderful feeling because I know she really needed the extra hand and she told me she wished there was more teens like me around, that melted my heart and made me want to lend a hand out whenever i have free time in my day. I chose to work with her because everyday after school i would see her outside doing yard work and kind of struggling with carrying supplies.

An act of kindness that left an incredible impression on me, as a receiver, was a time at school. It is something that I hope to never forget. It was an ordinary day and I was in the lunch line getting ready to leave with my food but was stopped because I was short a few dollars. I did not have any cash on me at the time so there was a high possibility that I was not going to be eating lunch that day. Miraculously I heard an unfamiliar voice say that he would pay for me, I looked over and a man I did not know nor did he know me, cash in hand, gave the lunch-lady his money to pay for me, a complete stranger. Baffled at his generosity and left speechless barely being able to say thank you I left. I had read about random acts of kindness from

During the week, I decided to engage in some "simple" acts of kindness that some people may overlook on a daily basis. The last two, I had done previously, but chose to list them here so that I can discuss my experience. I opted to do the following deeds:

Every week on Tuesday I give my spare time to the nursing home. After school at 4:00 I make my way over to please the elderly. When I get there I immediately turn up the music and try to get them to dance with me so they could get some exercise. After a few hours of playing board games, talking about their greatest memories, and eating while watching game shows I say my goodbyes and tell the senior citizens

Throughout everybody's life they have done something kind at one point in their life. In my life something kind that I have done occured a year ago when my CCD class had to come up with ideas for service projects to help people in need. Our class ended up doing four different drives that spanned out the whole years. We had a toiletry drive, food drive, book drive, and a blanket drive. Our parish donated all of the items that we collected to places all over Monmouth County. Working together with my peers to help others was extremely fulfilling. By helping those people I achieved my goal of completing acts of kindness.

When she got older, she needed a caregiver who would do house visits to ensure she was medicated, fed, and properly hygienic. I realize now that without this assistance, my grandmother would not have been able to live a worry-free life. My involvement at the senior center opened my eyes and ignited my passion to give back to the

In life acts of modesty and kindness go a long way in the eyes of society, as they are influential for the world’s younger generations. This is why for July’s act of kindness I performed an admirable act in order to possibly influence the others around me to do the same. This type of considerate act is what makes our world prosper through the bad and reminisce in the good by showing how people should treat one another. Since I am a counselor in training at a camp in Long Island, I am responsible for watching over a group of children that are between the ages of ten and twelve years old. Of course at this age in a young childs life, the children are like sponges in the way in which they absorb information from others around them. This is why

Last summer, I volunteered at Cloverdale, a small, local nursing home. At first, I was being selfish and only wanted to “participate” for the service hour credits. After sitting for hours on end, an elderly woman taught me the decisions we make early in life, deeply effect our lives in the end.

When I did these things for this man it was obvious that he was thankful for my help and he even came back and asked for help a second time which shows that he was grateful, otherwise he would have just asked someone else to grab something from the top shelf for him. I think in this “culture of cool” it is so easy to ignore older people who are asking for help or be rude to them, but to put aside your image and just help them is very kind. It was especially difficult to put aside my image while I was with my roommate. Had this happened while I was by myself I don’t even think I would consider it as a random act of kindness, but because I had to look a certain way in front of one of my friends it was harder to just do the nice thing. This assignment was strange for me because I have learned from 9 years of Catholic school that if you do something nice only with the intentions of bragging about it, it is not selfless. The most selfless and kind things you can do are to do something nice for someone else with the sole intention of doing it because the other person needs help. I like to think of myself as a kind person, but I have noticed that when it comes to people that I don’t know who are saying things to me, it can be really hard to respond with kindness. Growing up in San Francisco there are a lot of homeless people who say things to

The other day at WallMart I held a door open for this lady with: kids, groceries and was on the phone. She acted surprised to see me hold a door open for her. she then thanked me and continued on with her day. It felt good to help her in this way, she seemed busy; and it probably made her day go

I was leaving for my high school internship, I noticed my elderly neighbor struggling to carry some bags to her apartment. I quickly walked down stairs to offer my help. She saw me coming and was more than willing to let me help. She told me usually her husband helps her but he had been sick in bed all day, so she had to go shopping alone. I helped her up the stairs and into her apartment. When we got inside her apartment I put the bags on the table and told her next time she needed anything to let myself or my roommate know. When I came home from my internship, my roommate had cookies and a note from the neighbor saying “she needed help eating these cookies.” I didn’t expect her to make us cookies but I was very appreciative. Every time I see an elderly person struggling I thinking about my grandma. If she needed help I would want someone to help her. I think the lady was happy to receive help. Who knows how long she might have struggled with those bags.