Community Corner
Holiday Volunteering: Spread Christmas Cheer To Those Without Visitors
It's not too late to volunteer with The Holiday Project to visit a hospital or nursing home in your area.
Written by Jane Lemmons
While many people gather with friends and family during the holidays, others will spend the time alone. The Holiday Project aims to make sure that doesn't happen, and the organization is seeking help to do it.
The Holiday Project — a national nonprofit group that organizes visits to people in nursing homes, hospitals and other institutional care settings — needs volunteers for visits scheduled in Maryland.
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"A lot of times patients will receive a lot of attention in the weeks leading up to a holiday, but then when the holiday itself rolls around, the place is deserted," explained Robin Wiley, president of The Holiday Project of the National Capital Area.
"That's why so many of our visits are on Christmas Day. We want patients to know that someone remembers them and cares about them."
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According to The Holiday Project, millions of people each year spend the holidays confined to institutions and, as the population ages, that number will increase.
Many have outlived relatives and friends, or those people have moved away, making life a lonely experience with few opportunities to interact with others.
At the same time, other people are looking for ways to make their holidays more fulfilling.
The Holiday Project provides a way to connect those who need support with those who want to give back to their community.
The organization puts it this way: "Our goal is to make visits to people in institutions an integral part of America’s holiday experience and to bring the spirit of a holiday to people who otherwise would not have a celebration."
And it's not too late to volunteer.
"You can sign up as late as Christmas Eve," Wiley said. "Children and even pets are permitted at some visit sites."
Volunteers are needed to organize visits, as well as to participate on visit teams. For more information, call (703) 370-0370 or visit The Holiday Project website at www.holidayproject.info.
Volunteers are still needed for these visits scheduled throughout the area:
Sun., Dec. 22, 3-5 p.m., Bethesda
Manor Care Bethesda
6530 Democracy Boulevard 20814
Visit Team Leader: Emilio Gomez
301-767-7192 or Emilio.Gomez@Marriott.com
Wed., Dec. 25, 10 a.m. - noon, Laurel
Cherry Lane Nursing Center
9001 Cherry Lane 20708
Visit Team Leader: Paula Volk
301-922-9545 or 202-663-7432 or pvolk@sughrue.com
Wed., Dec. 25, 10 a.m. - noon, Largo
Manor Care Largo
600 Largo Road 20774
Visit Team Leader: Patrice and Paulette Murray
littlemurray9@verizon.net
Wed., Dec. 25, noon - 2 p.m., Hyattsville
St. Thomas Moore Nursing Center
4922 LaSalle Road 20782
Visit Team Leader: Alma Nivet
301-518-4255 or alma_nivet_33@hotmail.com
Wed., Dec. 25, 1-3 p.m., Rockville
Rockville Nursing Home
303 Adclare Road 20850
Visit Team Leader: Chip Boylan
301-692-3068 or 301-217-9572 or 301-979-0090 or vincent.boylan@willis.com or chipboylan@verizon.net
Where are you volunteering this holiday season?
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