United Way Logo
Search
Search
Menu
Newsletter
Keep Me Informed! Sign up for updates from United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.
Join Our Mailing List
Events
News
Donate
Search for:
See The Impact
Education
Food Access
Healthy Aging
Emergency Services
Results
United Way Partners
Take Action
Give
Advocate
Volunteer
Racial Justice and Equity
COVID-19
Find Resources
Resource Center
For Individuals
For Corporations
For Campaign Coordinators
For Nonprofits
For Community Schools
Media Center
Learn About United Way
100th Anniversary
What We Do
Why We Do It
How We Do It
Who We Are
Financial Reports and Policies
Investments
Search for:
News
Home
|
News
|
February 2019
|
United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley Celebrates President’s Day with Senior Day of Action
United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley Celebrates President’s Day with Senior Day of Action
Published: February 22, 2019
Allentown, PA, February 22, 2019
– On February 18, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley (UWGLV) hosted its first annual
Senior Day of Action
at multiple locations across the Lehigh Valley. 31 multigenerational volunteers and AmeriCorps VISTAs spent President’s Day morning lending a hand at Big Brothers Big Sisters Lehigh Valley, Valley Youth House Maternity Group Home and Lehigh Valley Children’s Center. The event is one of several planned for the year with the goal of engaging older adults in the community.
“Volunteering is good for both your mental and physical health. It helps to reduce stress and depression and isolation. And so we encourage the older residents of our community to stay connected and engaged.” says Carmen Bell, Director of Healthy Aging at UWGLV.
Volunteers aided in crafting party favors for an upcoming Big Brothers Big Sisters fundraiser. Participants at Valley Youth House refreshed the maternity rooms with a fresh coat of paint and volunteers at Lehigh Valley Children’s Center (LCCC) participated in activities with kids such as stretching, dancing and singing. Volunteers at LCCC also cleaned classrooms and toys.
Congresswoman Susan Wild and State Representative Michael Schlossberg took part, helping with preparations for the Big Brothers Big Sisters bowling fundraiser. Each assisted by cutting and attaching pin-wheel shaped construction paper to lollipops, which will be given as favors for the fundraiser. They also spent time visiting with organization employees and the volunteers.
Avoiding social isolation among older adults and integrating seniors into their community is a priority of Age-Friendly Lehigh Valley and UWGLV. 26,000 seniors in Lehigh and Northampton counties have difficulties meeting their own basic needs.
Senior Day of Action
was designed to help seniors stay active and healthy, and is a step in the Age-Friendly initiative to fight ageism. Through this and similar events, older adults can stay engaged in the community and interact with others, thus avoiding the perils of social isolation.
“Yesterday, new friendships were formed and new connections were made and we’re just so grateful to all who gave their time and energy to assist a few of our local organizations with projects. And we are also thankful for the partners who provided the opportunities for us to be of service.” said Bell.
With growing numbers and the organization’s need for increased support, UWGLV hosts a very successful VISTA program.
Senior Day of Action
was the first collaboration between UWGLV’s Healthy Aging and VISTA programs. For the last nine years, the VISTA program has aided in supporting the education work of the organization.
About AmeriCorp VISTA
AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) is an anti-poverty program that provides full-time and Summer Associate service members to nonprofit organizations and local agencies that serve low-income communities. AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs, made up of three primary programs that each take a different approach to improving lives and fostering civic engagement. Members commit their time to address critical community issues. UWGLV VISTA positions are related to supporting the organization’s Educational Impact Goal. For more information on the national program, visit:
www.nationalservice.gov/vista
Mission of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley
The mission of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley is to provide the leadership, convene the partnerships, and develop the resources and solutions that improve our community. We remain committed to these goals and sincerely appreciate the continued support of partners, program providers and donors throughout the Lehigh Valley.
www.UnitedWayGLV.org
Comments
Blog post currently doesn't have any comments.
Post archive
February 2023(
1
)
January 2023(
4
)
December 2022(
7
)
November 2022(
4
)
October 2022(
7
)
September 2022(
6
)
August 2022(
5
)
July 2022(
6
)
June 2022(
9
)
May 2022(
3
)
April 2022(
3
)
March 2022(
9
)
February 2022(
2
)
January 2022(
5
)
December 2021(
9
)
November 2021(
7
)
October 2021(
4
)
September 2021(
6
)
August 2021(
5
)
July 2021(
9
)
June 2021(
7
)
May 2021(
2
)
April 2021(
9
)
March 2021(
7
)
February 2021(
3
)
January 2021(
4
)
December 2020(
5
)
November 2020(
6
)
October 2020(
6
)
September 2020(
5
)
August 2020(
7
)
July 2020(
6
)
June 2020(
5
)
May 2020(
3
)
April 2020(
2
)
March 2020(
3
)
February 2020(
3
)
January 2020(
3
)
December 2019(
6
)
November 2019(
11
)
October 2019(
3
)
September 2019(
7
)
August 2019(
9
)
July 2019(
1
)
June 2019(
2
)
May 2019(
8
)
April 2019(
5
)
March 2019(
4
)
February 2019(
7
)
January 2019(
4
)
December 2018(
2
)
November 2018(
3
)
October 2018(
3
)
September 2018(
10
)
August 2018(
5
)
July 2018(
3
)
June 2018(
10
)
May 2018(
4
)
April 2018(
5
)
March 2018(
10
)
February 2018(
3
)
January 2018(
4
)
December 2017(
5
)
November 2017(
3
)
October 2017(
3
)
September 2017(
2
)
August 2017(
5
)
July 2017 (
4
)
June 2017(
3
)
May 2017(
9
)
April 2017(
4
)
March 2017(
8
)
February 2017(
12
)
January 2017(
8
)
December 2016(
11
)
November 2016 (
19
)
October 2016(
15
)
September 2016 (
5
)
August 2016(
5
)
July 2016(
6
)
June 2016(
9
)
May 2016 (
6
)
April 2016(
7
)
March 2016(
9
)
February 2016(
12
)
January 2016(
3
)
December 2015(
9
)
November 2015(
11
)
October 2015(
3
)
September 2015(
4
)
August 2015 (
1
)
July 2015 (
1
)
June 2015(
4
)
May 2015(
5
)
April 2015 (
2
)
March 2015(
5
)
February 2015(
6
)
January 2015(
2
)
December 2014(
5
)
November 2014(
4
)
October 2014(
4
)
September 2014(
8
)
August 2014(
9
)
July 2014(
3
)
June 2014(
4
)
May 2014(
5
)
April 2014(
4
)
March 2014(
7
)
February 2014(
5
)
January 2014(
4
)
Share this Article
Tweet
Show me how my $$ Makes A Difference
Please insert a dollar amount below
$
could help United Way provide:
Make a donation today