We Are Family mobilizes a committed corps of community volunteers to bring services, advocacy, organizing, and companionship into the homes of 450 isolated, low-income seniors each month.
This project ensures 16 seniors will get a visit this Thanksgiving. The visits not only provide companionship, but also ensure that our seniors do not feel alone or forgotten around the holidays, a time when many may experience a special sense of loneliness.
Equally as important, the Thanksgiving basket deliveries provide an opportunity to check in on
our seniors, provide assistance where possible, and identify broader needs that can be served.
In addition, it is also an opportunity for our seniors to build transformative, on-going relationships with their volunteers.
Thanksgiving baskets include food for a Thanksgiving meal - one whole uncooked 10-14lb. turkey, 1 box of stuffing, a combination of 10 canned goods, including items such as canned sweet potatoes, greens, green beans, corn, cranberry sauce, and other vegetables.
Nearly one-tenth of U.S. adults who are 65 and older currently live at or below the federal poverty level.
All of the census tracts that make up our service areas have a poverty rate higher than DC's already high overall average of 18%. The poverty rates in our service areas range from 22% to more than twice that level.
Many of the seniors we serve are living on a monthly income of $800 or less and could not afford a turkey and other food items for a Thanksgiving meal.
More importantly, many of our elders also slip through the cracks of our shredded social safety net. When services exist, those who need them the most often won’t be aware of them. It also can be hard to know how to take advantage of such help. For services to matter, a bridge must exist between the available resources and those persons in need.
We Are Family has a tiny staff (one full-time, one half-time); as a result, the vast majority of our work is done by volunteers. Our staff will coordinate our volunteers to assemble and deliver the baskets during the Thanksgiving week.
Traci M. donated to DC4DC - We are Family: Senior Support! - 7 months ago visit the project
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