Despite all the snow, something is blooming in the JP, Mission Hill, South End, and Charlestown neighborhoods. How is this possible with New England’s notorious winter weather? It’s Friendship & Flowers – LBFE’s new opportunity to connect with an elder in our great city. This opportunity is a simple way to make a difference in an elder’s life who is living in an assisted nursing home.
What is Friendship & Flowers?
Friendship & Flowers is based on a program that is offered by our Twin Cities chapter, and is an opportunity for volunteers to visit with an elder who may otherwise spend their Saturday alone. LBFE is partnering with three assisted nursing facilities to brighten their residents’ Saturday afternoons. Today, I had the pleasure of meeting one of the first elders to sign up for Friendship & Flowers. Miss Irene calls Mission Hill home. She said that, “On the weekends, there is nothing much to do, and it is really lonely after lunch. I just go to my room and stare at the four walls until dinner time.” Miss Irene is 102 years old and is unable to go outside and do the things she used to love to do. Her eyes lit up when I mentioned the idea of spending time with an LBFE volunteer. This is low commitment, fun way to get to know an elder.
What will the day look like?
Please plan to spend 2-3 hours volunteering. You will stop by our Jamaica Plain office that Saturday morning for a brief orientation, receive your elder’s information and some flowers to surprise the elder. Elders will be expecting your smiling face after their lunch, so be sure to stop and have lunch yourself while you are in JP! The staff will know that you are coming and will help you locate your elder when you arrive at the facility. You will visit with your elder in your choice of indoor and outdoor community spaces at their residence.
How can you participate in Friendship and Flowers?
Join LBFE, and be one of the first Friendship and Flowers (F&F) volunteers. This program is only possible with the support of you as our volunteers, so please help us create this new program that will serve elders each and every month. Online registration will be available through our website on the events calendar starting mid-February. New volunteers will be asked to complete a volunteer application and a background check.
Post written by Airlie Parham, excited Project Coordinator for F&F. Send her a note at aparham.bos@littlebrothers.org, and she can be reached 617-524-8882 to chat about LBFE opportunities. (Pictured Above: Nick Nixon and friend, Norma C.)