AgeWell Pittsburgh, a collaboration between JFCS Senior Services, JCC and JAA, has done so much to help local seniors maintain their independence and connection to the community! We’re proud that AgeWell Rides, Visits and Reads have each become such successful contributions to this effort, both for seniors, and for the volunteers who often report how much they also benefit from the experience.Over the course of the past four years, AgeWell Rides volunteers have driven local seniors more than 13,000 miles to beauty parlors, grocery stores, doctor’s appointments, luncheon dates, and all sorts of other local destinations.
In the past three years, AgeWell Visits volunteers have dedicated over 1300 hours to visit and befriend homebound seniors – playing board games, learning how to knit and preparing for bnei mitzvah! Monthly visits have turned into a deep friendships; volunteers of all ages have embraced the experience and families have “adopted” new grandparents.
This past year, we partnered with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh to launch AgeWell Reads! This new and exciting initiative connects seniors with a librarian to choose books to read. An AgeWell Reads volunteer personally picks up and delivers the books, and returns them when they are due.
The key to the success of AgeWell Rides, Visits and Reads is the wonderful volunteers who dedicate their time to brighten the lives of seniors. These small acts of kindness turn out to mean so much.
There are open volunteer opportunities to join all three of these AgeWell initiatives! If you are interested in spending a few hours a month getting to know a local senior in Squirrel Hill, Shadyside or Oakland, please contact Ellen Leger at 412-422-0400,or email eleger@jfcspgh.org.
Our partnerships with the JCC and JAA – and support of the Jewish Federation, United Way and community donors have made it possible to build these exciting and impactful initiatives!