As the holiday season surrounds us, spending time with family and friends becomes a big part of our schedules. We enjoy parties with decorations, music, and lots of good food and cheer. For seniors who live on their own and are not able to get around as well as the rest of us, it is very different. That is why our volunteers are extraordinary to us, especially at holiday times.
Meals on Wheels drivers pick up hot meals at the center and deliver them to those who are not able to get their own meals. For some, the Meals on Wheels driver may be the only person that senior sees the whole day.
Friendly visitors who have adopted a senior make home visits, keep in touch and sometimes take their friend out for a bite to eat or even to their house for a family gathering or holiday. When the phone rings and a wellness call volunteer is at the other end of the phone, just to say hi and to chat for a while, it is often a high point of the day for that senior.
When a group of volunteers shows up at a senior’s home to rake leaves or shovel snow, it can mean all the difference in the world for them. After an illness or a trip to the hospital, a card or letter from someone who cares can help that senior recover faster so they can get back to their normal life.
Volunteers help to prepare meals, set tables and welcome newcomers at the center. They help lead discussions, teach classes, sit on boards, plan programs and decorate the center for the seasons. The volunteers are an extension of the staff and have helped to make the Groton Senior Center the busy energetic place it is today.
Truly, we don’t thank our wonderful volunteers enough for all of the work that they do to make this Senior Center and this town a better place to live for our older adults. At this special time of year, we would like to wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season and a new year filled with health and happiness.
Happy holidays from the staff at the Groton Senior Center.
DEBBIE, KIM, AL and MARTHA
