Dear Friends,
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought the need for socialization, no matter your age, to the forefront. Many feel lonely and isolated and are trying to adapt to new ways of engaging with family and friends.
At AgingNext we have seen the impact on the older adults we serve on a daily basis. Now more than ever, our clients are in need of companionship, and for some, our Care Partner program has been able to provide the support and friendship they long for. Care Partners provide an opportunity to engage with others, alleviating the loneliness that so many homebound seniors experience. Vinnie, a Care Partner volunteer, and Hilda, an AgingNext client, clearly express the mission of AgingNext and share their inspiring story to encourage others to get involved.
Hilda moved from Staten Island to California in the late 1970’s. After a career in real estate and raising her four children, Hilda enjoys keeping in touch with her 11 grandkids and 10 great-grandkids but unfortunately, they all live in other states. When no longer able to drive, Hilda was searching for help. She still wanted to get out and be able to shop, run errands, and make her doctor visits. AgingNext’s Care Partner program brought Vinnie and Hilda together. Vinnie does the driving, but more importantly, Hilda and Vinnie share a friendship.
“We talk about our lives, everything we go through, good and bad, and we help understand each other. Our friendship helps us both feel less lonely.”
Vinnie and Hilda are just one example of the clients and volunteers that we have the honor of including in the AgingNext family. Having served older adults for 45 years, we have many stories of hope and friendship and know just how important our work in the community is.
Please send the most generous gift you are able in an effort to impact those we serve. Our volunteers and staff are providing rides, meals, resources, and support…and your generosity will help the 5,000+ seniors and their families we connect with each year.
Thanks to Vinnie and Hilda, we know that what we are doing matters, and hope you will join with us to make a difference in the lives of so many!
With appreciation,
Floy Biggs, CEO
P.S. Your donation of $100 will help local seniors in our Care Partner program during these unprecedented times.
Meet Vinnie:
Venera, Vinnie for short, is a 79-year-old Care Partner Volunteer who moved to California from New York in 1975 in search of warmer weather. She is lucky to have three children and four beautiful grandchildren. Vinnie retired in 1995 after working as an extra on TV shows and movies such as NYPD Blue, Seinfeld, ER, and Chicago Hope. In 2008 her grandson passed away and Vinnie needed support during her grieving process and began volunteering with AgingNext in 2010. We are so lucky to have a positive, sassy New Yorker like Vinnie to help seniors age in their own homes. She is assigned to six lovely ladies, however, her relationship with Hilda is extra special because of their shared bond of being from Staten Island!