Moscow: Senior's Day
HOPE worldwide - Russia organized another HOPE day with the support of volunteers for the Old Friends’ Home program for 100 lonely seniors and veterans of WWII.
The Old Friends’ Home is a weekly program that has been running since 1998. The program allows seniors and WWII veterans the opportunity to gather together to celebrate holidays, play bingo and chess, to watch their favorite movies, and to talk to one another. They also receive charitable donations in the form of groceries and domestic products each month.
On this holiday 40 HOPE volunteers gathered together to encourage seniors and WWII veterans. The volunteers also visited seniors’ homes and helped clean and fix things.
For the holiday, HOPE worldwide – Russia prepared sets of essential household items for every senior.
The HOPE staff and volunteers helped with cleaning, moving and fixing things, they helped to winterize windows, and of course the volunteers spent great time talking together with the veterans and seniors, which is equally important for lonely retired people.
Volunteers shared:
“My family and I gladly came to help the veterans. We are grateful for the investment they have made in our lives today. We want to help at least a little and show that we value what they have done for future generations.”
-Vyacheslav
“I have parents and that’s why I want to show love and respect to those who are lonely and are missing their own family’s warmth.”
-Andrey
“This is a great program for pensioners! It’s great that there is an opportunity to come and help. These are our parents, our grannies. I’d like to have deep talks with these people and to encourage them. That’s why I’m here.”
-Roman
“I think it’s a unique chance to help those people who trust HOPE worldwide – Russia. In Moscow it can be a problem for old people to ask for help because they are afraid of it. It is really unique to help and to encourage those who really need help thanks to this program. It’s great: thanks to this program there is a chance to help the needy much more often than once a year.”
-Lena
“I want to be helpful in this life! I don’t have a grannma or grandpa, and I’d like to find those to whom I can give my love and care. I want to see their smiles and I want them to know that there are people who will take care of them and support them.”
-Gera
“It’s not my first time participating in this program. It’s great that there is a chance to use my skills for the welfare of others. I have decided to give this day to veterans to do my best to help them and to give them a feeling of caring and love. It’s wonderful to help others!”
-Dima
“I took part in this program last year and was very encouraged and happy to do it. It’s worth it to give all you have to see the grandmas' happy faces! I took my friend with me to the program this time. I think it’s very important to support those who went through WWII and restored Moscow after the war. It’s great that there is a generation we can imitate. It’s rare to have a chance to encourage these people. Also, I’m glad to meet other volunteers and feel united with them, which is important in a major city like Moscow».
-Natasha
Veterans and Pensioners shared:
“I need this kind of help as I’m a 2nd level invalid and physically can’t do many things in my home. Thank you very much for your help!”
-Nina Nikolaevna (68 years old)
“I’m very lonely, live with my dog and have nobody to talk to. It’s sad to be lonely. Moral and physical support is so important. Thank you for this program very much. It’s always fun and interesting. I do feel the love and have very good fellowship here. It’s a very pleasant feeling to be here. Thank you for helping us not lose our hearts for others. We want this program to continue for a long, long, long while, and to be here forever.”
-Raisa Semenosva (70 years old)
“We are all over 70, 80 years old and older and we really need this kind of program. I even feel that I have changed after visiting this program. I have receive a new stimulus in my life! The Old Friends’ Home does a lot for us pensioners! Today I feel sick, but I took medicine and came anyway. Thank you and May God bless you with strong health!
-Riva Iosifovna (79 years old)
HOPE worldwide – Russia thanks all our volunteers who dedicated this day to our dear pensioners and WWII veterans and to all who came to give their love and support to our dear old friends.
May you have as much warmth and care in your life as you have given to others!
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