SPREAD JOY

At Serving Seniors, many of the older adults we serve do not have large networks of family and friends. Many seniors would benefit from friendly connections during this deeply isolating time. The health impacts of loneliness are significant. Your expressions of love and gratitude have the power to brighten a senior’s day by reminding them the community is holding them in their hearts.

Please consider writing letters, notes of encouragement, drawings or holiday cards. This can be a great at-home activity for youth and helps deepens intergenerational connections. Cheerful messages from all ages are encouraged! Your cards will get sent to seniors throughout San Diego County with their daily meal deliveries.

GUIDELINES FOR HOMEMADE CARDS

• Please be mindful of the diversity among our clients and select images that would appeal to a broad audience and language that respects the dignity and individuality of older adults.
• Avoid religion; your letter should resonate with anyone.
• Focus on the positive! Avoid words of condolence or sympathy. 
• Envelope your letters if you can, but please leave the envelopes unsealed and unstamped.
• Letters must be legible (large print) and handwritten.  No worries if you are not artistic – make your card as what you would like to receive.
• Embrace creativity! Our clients love it when the letters are personal. We encourage you to make your letters colorful and fun – photos, crosswords, and drawings are great.
• Due to our confidentiality policy, we cannot provide specific names for you to address your cards.
• Feel free sign the card with your first name, but please do not include your full name or other personal identifying information.
• Send us as many cards as you would like. We accept letters year-round.
• If you would like to send cards for a specific holiday, email us to ask about the deadline for receiving cards for that holiday.

INTERESTED? NEXT STEPS:

Please download and complete our Volunteer Card Making Form. Include the form with your cards and MAIL TO:

Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center
Attn: Christina Selder
1525 Fourth Ave.
San Diego, CA 92101

QUESTIONS:

For questions or to get mail deadlines for any holiday-related cards, please reach out to Christina Selder, Director of Community Engagement and Government Relations, at christina.selder@servingseniors.org or (619) 487-0747. Thank you!

Gift giving is an act that shows appreciation and thoughtfulness.  

We appreciate you assembling gift bags, making holiday ornaments and other crafts for our seniors. Your generosity and creative expression truly brighten a senior’s day by reminding them the community is holding them in their hearts. 

Handmade Gift ideas:

• Bookmarks
• Painted rocks
• Potted plants

INTERESTED? NEXT STEPS:

Please download and complete our Volunteer Handmade Gifts Form. Include the form with your handmade gifts and MAIL TO:

Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center
Attn: Christina Selder
1525 Fourth Ave.
San Diego, CA 92101

If you want to coordinate a drop off your donation or need proof of volunteer hours and/or your donation, please email Christina Selder at christina.selder@servingseniors.org.

PURPOSE:
Art is a sincere form of self-expression and, when shared, it has the power to build better connections to oneself and to others. The purpose of this program is to enhance the connection between our seniors and the community through art exhibits.

HOW IT WORKS:
You do not need to be an artist! You just need to be inspired to make something that communicates a thoughtful message to our seniors.
First, your group will need to select a theme for your exhibit. For example, everyone will draw images from nature or everyone will draw a car; however, each of you will create your own masterpiece. Everyone should agree on a date that all art pieces will be completed. Then, one or more people from your group will collect the art pieces and deliver them to Serving Seniors (at a pre-arranged time and location).

The Serving Seniors team will display your group’s work in a highly trafficked area of our housing sites (i.e. near the elevators, in the lobby, etc.). We will also promote your group’s work by creating a poster to accompany the exhibit. The poster will introduce your group to the seniors, the purpose of the project, and describe your chosen theme. Our team may choose to feature your exhibit at all of our housing sites. When the traveling exhibit is complete, we will contact your group’s representative to collect the art work.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• Group of at least 5
• Canvas or foam-backed poster board to feature your art (3D art is not an option at this time)
• Display easel (unless we have some on-hand, please ask us)
• Designated delivery date
• Designated pick up date

INTERESTED? NEXT STEPS:
Please reach out to Christina Selder, Director of Community Engagement & Government Relations, to discuss your interest and ideas further at christina.selder@servingseniors.org or (619) 487-0747.

Bring live music to seniors during COVID!

Summary:

We are inviting music performers (of any level) to perform in the courtyards of our housing sites.

Perform one time or on a recurring schedule at any of our locations.

Locations: Downtown San Diego, City Heights, or Ramona.

For more information or to sign up, please reach out to Christina Selder at christina.selder@servingseniors.org or (619) 487-0747.

Purpose and Objective: To help Serving Seniors process the in-kind donations we receive.  This may include counting, sorting, and organizing donations and helping us thank donors.

Location: The Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center, 1525 Fourth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101

Supervisor: Christina Selder, christina.selder@servingseniors.org or (619) 487-0747

Responsibilities may include:

• Keep our General Store of donated supplies organized and easy to navigate
• Inform our team when our inventory of certain items is running low
• Record donor contact information, type and quantity of items (s) donated
• Sort greeting card donations by theme (e.g., general encouragement, various holidays, etc.)
• Write thank-you notes to donors

Qualifications and Required Skills:

• Legible handwriting
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently
• Dependable and responsible

Appropriate Attire: Casual but professional

Time Commitment:

• 1 to 1.5 hours per week for a minimum of 3 months
• Your shift can be anytime between 8:30am and 4:00pm on Mondays or Thursdays.  The exact time and day of your recurring weekly shift will be decided at the start of your service to allow flexibility around your schedule.

Training and Support Provided:

• Preliminary training and weekly direction from the Volunteer and Activities Team
• All necessary materials will be provided

Summary:

Join our senior walking group for a 45–60-minute walk around the downtown area. Enjoy fresh air, visit scenic and historic sites in downtown San Diego and get to know our seniors!  You will be providing support to the Walking Group Guide (as needed). 

Location: Start and end at the Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center, 1525 Fourth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101.  Walking route varies; navigation provided by the Walking Group Guide.

Supervisor: Van Erickson, vanessa.erickson@servingseniors.org or (619) 487-0605

Responsibilities:

• Accompany our senior walking group for the full duration of their walk
• Carry a backpack with water bottles, snacks, and first aid kit (provided)
• Do your best to ensure the walk is an enjoyable experience for all group members
• Assist the Walking Group Guide as needed

Qualifications and Required Skills

• Complete a volunteer application and pass a background check
• Ability to walk continuously for one hour
• Dependable, responsible, and friendly
• Enjoys spending time with seniors and exploring the city

Time Commitment:

• Thursdays 8:30am-11:00am
• Walking group leaves at 9:00am and returns by 10:30am.
• You may serve in this role one time or on a recurring basis
• Open to volunteer groups or individuals

Training and Support provided:

• Preliminary training and ongoing support will be provided as needed from the Volunteer and Activities Team

Summary:

Guide our senior walking group around downtown San Diego for a 45-60 minute walk on Thursday mornings. Lead the group along a predetermined route while enjoying the scenic and historic sites of downtown!

Location: Start and end at the Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center, 1525 Fourth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101. Walking route will vary.

Supervisor: Van Erickson, vanessa.erickson@servingseniors.org or (619) 487-0605

Responsibilities:

• Keep the group together and on the predetermined route
• Oversee group member safety, with the help of other volunteers (i.e. our Walking Group Champions)
• Do your best to ensure the walk is an enjoyable experience for all group members
• Bonus: Share interesting facts and historical background about sites and attractions along the walking route

Qualifications and Required Skills:

• Complete a volunteer application and pass a background check
• Excellent navigation skills
• Excellent customer service and public speaking skills
• Ability to walk continuously for one hour
• Dependable, responsible, and friendly
• Enjoys spending time with seniors and exploring the city
• Bonus: Knowledge of Downtown San Diego attractions, layout, and history

Time Commitment:

• Every Thursday 8:30am-11:00am for a minimum of 3 months
• Walking group leaves at 9:00am and returns by 10:30am.

Training and Support Provided:

• The Volunteer and Activities Team will design a rotation of 4-5 scenic walking routes. We welcome your input and suggestions.
• Preliminary training and ongoing support will be provided as needed from the Volunteer and Activities Team.