DOROT WINTER MEAL PACKAGE DELIVERY TO HOMEBOUND ELDERLY
Feb. 2, 2020 | NYC
Recap by Jane Fincke Orenstein, Yale Community Connect Volunteer
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Ten YANA Yale Community Connect volunteers woke up extra early on Super Bowl Sunday to spread a little cheer to some grateful seniors around NYC through the DOROT Winter Package Delivery. Once again, Yale Community Connect did just that: we connected with our community in a caring and meaningful way.
Four of us even met early for coffee, which was a particularly lovely way to start the day. Then we headed over to Central Synagogue for orientation, where we learned that DOROT is the Hebrew word for generations: DOROT creates bonds between generations to alleviate elderly social isolation. The goal of the Winter Package Delivery extended far beyond bringing a basket of food; each volunteer spent about an hour with their senior, conversing, sharing stories, bringing compassion and warmth on a cold winter morning. Most of our YANA group had volunteered with DOROT before, and we even had two pairs of two-generation returning volunteers: Sam Rubin and his dad Allan and Matt Funk and his mother Florence.
Participants have conveyed only positive feedback, with everyone looking forward to volunteering with DOROT again. Liyang Wang suggested returning to visit the same senior next time and Crystal Aldape enjoyed chatting with her senior, who was prepared to see her, asked lots of questions, and had two fabulous Italian greyhounds!
As a heads up, Yale Community Connect will send a group to the DOROT spring delivery event on Sunday, March 29. Details will follow shortly but mark your calendars now!