With older adults and the elderly being the most vulnerable to Covid-19, this is a dangerous time for them. Many elderly people in retirement facilities suffer from dementia and may struggle to protect themselves from Covid-19 by forgetting to wash their hands or wear masks. They may also have difficulty understanding the deadliness of the virus and how it spreads. In times like these, it is critical that we come together as a community and help those who are most at risk.
LC Heartshare is a non-profit organization founded by a group of high school students in La Crescenta, California. The group aims to instill volunteerism and beautify the community by inspiring young artists to collaborate and share their art with a mural process. Heartshare aims to brighten the world one mural at a time and help inspire others through art.
LC Heartshare partnered with CSI Support & Development services, a non profit organization that specializes in affordable housing for low-income senior citizens, and visited one of their co-op living spaces in Gardena, California. Heartshare members collaborated to create a cute logo for an eco bag, which they then filled with treats and essentials. They divided into groups to distribute the over 250 bags loaded with items such as masks, tissues, hand sanitizer, and snacks to the homes of the elderly.
My group and I were in charge of the apartment complex’s third floor. We knocked on the residents’ doors, greeted them, and handed them their bags. They expressed gratitude for our generosity and it warmed our hearts to be able to help the elderly. It was nice to see all of their happy faces and it also felt good to give back. We also had a good time talking to and getting to know some of them.
In Korean tradition, it is important that elders be treated with utmost respect and that we care for them as a community. In a time like this, I believe that this was an excellent volunteer opportunity to assist those in need. I encourage others to do the same, and to remember that seniors are more vulnerable to the Coronavirus, and may need extra help and care.
