Interfaith Hosts SOS (Serving Our Seniors) Day
The Woodlands, Texas Youth Spend Saturday Helping Senior Citizens
Feb 16, 2009
A number of member congregations along with civic groups involve their youth in this day of service to seniors. These young people, guided by their youth ministers, advisers, or sponsors, get up early on a Saturday morning to spend a day with the older folks of their community.
History of Day of Service to Seniors
This social service program, sponsored by Interfaith of The Woodlands, started in 2007 at a staff member's suggestion, and has continued to grow since then. Dr. Ann Snyder, President and CEO of Interfaith of The Woodlands, expects a couple hundred projects and twice that many teens, according to a recent press release of February 12, 2009.
Projects in Senior's Homes for Serving Our Seniors Day
Much planning is done by the organizers to identify areas of need, and to register participants and recipients. Efforts are made to clarify details of their projects, even including a visit to the homes of some seniors to clarify plans for minor repairs or like tasks.
When the big day arrives, teams of teens and their sponsors go to individual homes to do yard work, light painting and repairs. At times the tasks they will do are jobs which are just not in the budget of senior citizens who often live on a fixed income.
At times these volunteers plant flowers to liven up the environment and cheer up the older folks they are assisting. Others will do gardening, crafts, or cleaning.
A Full Day of Service to Seniors
The morning starts with a gathering breakfast where last-minute details are communicated, then the youth are off to their projects. After a full day of projects and hard work they return to The Woodlands for dinner and a concert.
Lori Mercer, Senior Services Coordinator, notes in the above-mentioned press release that in addition to all the work, the teens are "building relationships across the generations" as can be seen from the smiles on the faces of all concerned.
One Cancer Survivor's Experience with SOS
In a February 10, 2009 personal interview with Larry about this program, he spoke of when he had finally finished many months of being in and out of the hospital. Naturally he was not yet active enough to work in the yard. In addition, his budget was far too tight to allow for hiring someone to help with these tasks. His wife (his only caregiver) worked two jobs to help them keep afloat and pay co-pays and prescriptions since he was not quite old enough for Medicare.
This couple was delighted when the teens embarked on their lawn to get it in shape, spruce up flower beds, and fix broken fence boards. Getting caught up on outside work enabled his wife to keep it up, with help from great church friends, till Larry regained enough strength to help out.
Eldercare Facilities Activities on Service to Seniors Day
At assisted living locations, these teens play games, read, and do light housekeeping. Long term care facilities receive visits to lend the cheer and hope of youth to the residents, and teens gain both approval and appreciation from the seniors.
SOS Volunteers Host Barbeque for Local Area
Tamina, a local historic community, will be the focal point for a barbeque hosted by the volunteers and their sponsors.
This day of Serving Our Seniors is eagerly anticipated by both volunteers and seniors alike. The sponsoring organization, Interfaith of The Woodlands, Texas, presents an innovative program of community service with an intergenerational theme which accomplishes a full-day of helping projects for struggling local seniors, both in-home and in senior-care facilities.
Source for Press Release dated February 12, 2009 from Public Relations and Marketing Department of Interfaith of The Woodlands, Texas entitled "Interfaith S.O.S. Set for March 7" . Further information can be obtained from the Woodlandsinterfaith.org/ website.
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