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Honor Seniors
Older adults are often the best
storytellers in the family. Their memories, traditions
and talents are just waiting to be shared. But as we
approach the holiday season, many older citizens won’t
be near their families because they live far apart.
What better way to honor seniors in your family and
community and pay tribute to their experiences than
by undertaking a project together this holiday season.
There are a wide range of projects that individuals,
families, and social and service organizations can participate
in with older adults. In fact, it is a great opportunity
for youth-oriented organizations such as school groups
or scout troops to get involved with seniors, according
to Betsy Reithemeyer, director of the Wal-Mart/SAM’S
CLUB Foundation, which funds thousands of projects designed
to enhance the lives of older adults. This year the
Foundation donated $1.45 million to more than 2,900
youth groups for projects benefiting seniors.
“These activities bring generations together, nurture
friendships, encourage volunteerism, and broaden understanding
and support in a community,” says Reithemeyer.
Here are a few project suggestions for this holiday
season:
* Host a storytelling time for older adults to relate
their favorite holiday memories.
* Visit an elderly resident of a nursing home. Many
of these individuals never have a visitor at holiday
time and would appreciate having someone stop by to
share a smile.
*Make a holiday greeting card for residents at a retirement
center.
* Make a family photo album as a holiday gift to the
family, complete with dates, locations and identifications
of family members. Share stories about special events
the family enjoyed together.
* Construct a family tree, giving children the opportunity
to learn the ancestral line of their family. Strive
to preserve particular ethnic or religious beliefs and
special holiday traditions.
* Ask a senior to share special talents, such as cooking,
sculpting or quilting, which can be passed on to interested
young people.
* Volunteer at a nutrition center or with Meals-on-Wheels
to prepare and deliver holiday meals or food baskets
to elderly shut-ins.
* Design a Web page about a grandparent or favorite
older adult.
* Videotape an interview with a senior about his or
her life. Show it at a meeting of a youth organization
and invite the star of the show to attend.
* Host a game day at a senior center featuring traditional
board games enjoyed by young and old alike.
Wal-Mart provides financial support to 501(c)3 youth
groups for intergenerational projects every year. Each
store makes a donation to fund projects such as delivering
fruit baskets to shut-ins, providing lunch for grandparents
at a local food kitchen, conducting oral history projects
with local centenarians, and visiting nursing home residents
whose family members live far away.
“Older adults are a vibrant, contributing part of our
communities,” says Reithemeyer. “They have a great deal
of wisdom and insight to share, and they deserve to
be honored.” The Wal-Mart/SAM’S CLUB Foundation funds
the many projects chosen by the company’s associates
through the Wal-Mart Good Works community involvement
program.
Whether you choose to do a project in a youth group,
as a family, or on your own, the holidays are the perfect
time to bring together youth and seniors in your community.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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