What We Do
We spend quality time with seniors in nursing homes and assisted living facilities by engaging in or helping with the following fun activities:
Conversations
Chats with residents about their lives, their families, what they like to do, etc. Some residents do not see their families more than once or twice a year, and some do not even have families. Although they are living in a facility with many other adults, it can still be very lonely for them. Something as small as a simple conversation can mean the world to someone who may feel isolated.
Music
Piano performances Colette and Anthony are pianists who have been playing since they were in elementary school and perform both classical and contemporary pieces for residents.Music
Name That Tune and Sing-alongs Many oldies from the 1930s through the 1960s are played through the speaker, as these songs are reminiscent of the seniors' youth.
Arts & Crafts
Variety of craftsGetting the seniors to do creative activities using their hands, but more importantly, sharing time with them in a fun, relaxing setting.Arts & Crafts
Coloring books Colette and Anthony's family provides adult coloring books and colored pencils for the residents to use whenever they like. This is a great activity for their hand-eye coordination.
Trivia
The seniors really love playing trivia because it challenges them and helps sharpen their minds. Games sometimes last for up to ninety minutes!Trivia Styles/Topics Include:
1. Jeopardy 2. General 3. Holidays 4. Riddles
Movies & TV Shows
Movies/programs are screened for residents in the theater during times when they just want to relax; the siblings can sit with them to engage or just keep them company.
Fundraisers & Gift-Giving
Fall Fundraiser - October 2023 Colette and Anthony wrote numerous letters to local businesses asking for donations. Fortunately, they received many responses, and in the late fall, they donated two checks: one to Meals on Wheels, and one to SAGE Eldercare, the business that oversees the local Meals on Wheels Chapter.Fundraisers & Gift-Giving
Meals on Wheels Fundraiser #1 - August 2022 Because their first fundraiser was so successful, Colette and Anthony decided to bake more cookies and donate the profits to Meals on Wheels, a nonprofit organization that delivers hot meals to seniors living alone.Fundraisers & Gift-Giving
Meals on Wheels Fundraiser #2 - December 2022 Similar to their last fundraiser, Colette and Anthony baked a variety of cookies, sold them, and donated the profits to Meals on Wheels.Fundraisers & Gift-Giving
Meals on Wheels Food Drive - February 2023 Colette and Anthony donated the following goods to a local chapter of Meals on Wheels: 28 boxes of mac n' cheese, 12 cups of noodle soup, 36 packs of Oodles of Noodles, 32 packs of peanut butter crackers, 32 packs of cheese crackers, 16 boxes of Nutrigrain bars, 12 tuna packs, 2 boxes of Lipton soup mix, 11 pouches of rice/pasta mixes, 48 boxes of Goldfish packs, 96 pouches of instant oatmeal, 96 boxes of granola bars, 18 packs of applesauce, 40 fruit cups, 24 boxes of Cheez-It crackers, 20 large bags of pretzel crisps, 16 cans of pasta/sauce, and 24 cans of Campbell Soup.Fundraisers & Gift-Giving
Meals on Wheels Pantry Gift Bags - April 2023 For this fundraiser, Colette and Anthony added a creative spin: after baking and selling cookies to buy requested pantry items for Meals on Wheels, they created pantry gift bags for Meals on Wheels deliverers to hand out. On these bags they drew colorful pictures and wrote uplifting messages for the seniors who would be receiving them in hopes of brightening their day. In total, they packed more than 50 bags. Check out the Gallery to see some examples!Fundraisers & Gift-Giving
Meals on Wheels Pantry Items - July 2023 After receiving another list of highly requested pantry items from their local Meals on Wheels chapter, Colette and Anthony held a bake sale and used all of the profits to buy the different items. This helped ensure that everyone on the Meals on Wheels route received the food they wanted and needed.
Baked Goods
The siblings bake tasty treats for the residents to brighten up their days. Care is ALWAYS taken when it comes to cleanliness, allergies, and dietary restrictions!