Be a Little Brother

Hey BK-ers,

The holidays are coming up, and if you live in New England right now, you can definitely feel it by the sudden chill in the air.  For many of us, the holidays are associated with large gatherings of family and friends and food.  But for some, the holidays are painfully lonely and go uncelebrated.  This is especially true for many elderly folks who live in isolation with no nearby friends or family members.  Dedicate some of your Thanksgiving this year to spend time with someone who might really appreciate your company!

Consider volunteering with Little Brothers, Friends of the Elderly, an organization dedicated to offering relief from loneliness and isolation for elderly people.  Little Brothers motto is "flowers before bread," which showcases their "core belief that sharing love and respect and bringing beauty into the lives of the elderly is as essential as meeting their physical needs" (from their website).  Little Brothers has a network of volunteers who visit with the elderly, help them with everyday tasks, and organize special events for them to participate in.  For the holidays, volunteers are sent to as many homes as possible to visit and deliver flowers and a warm and delicious meal.  Especially with the current state of the economy and the cutback in social services, the number of low-income senior citizens living in isolation is increasing.  If you would be interested in volunteering with Little Brothers for the holidays or as a regular volunteer, please visit http://www.littlebrothers.org/.