LANSDALE – Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain love for one another: So begins a quote by Erma Bombeck at the top of a colorfully inspiring flyer given to me upon my arrival at Elm Terrace Gardens Continuing Care Retirement Community. Public Relations Director Traci Connelly and Life Enrichment Director Toni Allebach were the creators of the flyer, and they eagerly shared their hope of creating many more volunteer opportunities in the upcoming months. Together, the two women managed to put a new spin on an old program.

Elm Terrace Gardens is looking for student volunteers with the aim of reaching out to a slightly older crowd who would be able to spend a few hours a week with the residents.

“We’d like to get volunteers from North Penn, Lansdale Catholic, and a lot of the local schools, and kind of partner them up with one or a group of our residents to do some activities with them. We don’t want generations separated, we want generations united,” Connelly explained.

“The one thing high schoolers can offer us that grade schoolers and preschoolers couldn’t,” Connolly began, “is they can challenge our residents emotionally, spiritually, and be far more engaging because they can learn as well as teach.”

With the impetus behind their plan of “seniors helping seniors,” so to speak, revealed, (the former being of high school variety, of course,) Connelly went on to explain just what she had in mind for prospective volunteers. It is also important to note that the program is not geared directly towards high school seniors, but to anyone in grades 9 to 12 who might be interested in getting involved.

These inter-generational activities are not without benefits for both parties. The potential to build quality, long-lasting relationships is extremely high and very encouraged. During countless opportunities to share stories about life, history, and even love, students are bound to find a friend within the residents of Elm Terrace and vice versa. Kids who grew up without grandparents will discover that if not a friend, a resident can assume the role of a grandparent figure who could offer the same guidance and affection as they might’ve been missing. This idea of filling an empty space lends itself both ways, as residents without grandchildren take solace in hearing about the lives of their students.

“For the residents that don’t have family local, [the student volunteers] will be their only connection, and the residents now are just starting to get on that fast-track of learning,” Allebach said. “Knowledge is power, so why not give them someone less intimidating, like a student, to help them and ensure they stay connected to the generations.”

But it’s not just the residents who are struggling to bridge this generational gap. “[The program] helps create an understanding,” Connelly explained, balancing Allebach’s previous statement. “Students receive a more positive view of the aging process, creating empathy towards the seniors, and an understanding of how far they’ve come and where they’re going. [The residents] are just at another stage in their life, not the end; they still have a lot to offer.”

That is not to say, however, that there’s not a lot the residents would still like to learn. In fact, it’s the complete opposite. Some of the new classes Allebach and Connelly wish to implement are Social Media Class and Computers 101 during which students would spend an hour or so of their time to dine with the residents and teach them the basics or nuances of navigating their Facebook accounts and iPads. For the more artistically inclined, there are make-and-take projects designed so that students can sit with the residents to offer help and stylistic input if necessary. Student musicians and singers are encouraged to spend some time teaching the residents how to play an instrument or even sing a duet. As it turns out, even the elderly know how to get down when they hear their jam played.

“If someone has the time, we have a job for them,” Allebach assured. “If they have an hour at night, we can find something for them to do whether it’s cheer during a shuffleboard game or even start a pen pal, which is great for someone who doesn’t have a whole lot of time but still is interested in connecting with a resident.”

“My vision,” she continued, “would be that if you were in the drama club and performing a play, you would be so close with your resident that you’d ask them to come see you in that play, and the same for athletes during their games and meets.”

While it’s nice for sports teams and clubs to have an audience, the Elm Terrace Community also has extracurriculars in the form of day trips and festivals, but they lack the manpower to bring the optimum number of residents. This is where teams and clubs could return the favor and become the fan base of the elderly, accompanying them on trips to places likes the zoo (all of which is paid for) and being their companions for a day.

Connelly and Allebach will gladly start taking volunteers as soon as possible, though there is no set date for any of the classes. Priya Roychoudhury, a current North Penn senior, has been volunteering at Elm Terrace for two years.

“I love it because I get to work with the nicest residents, and I help with activities which are fun and give me volunteer hours. It’s basically like going to summer camp but with elderly people,” Roychoudhury laughed.

“It’s so interesting to see that you all could be part of [the same program] and yet you can gather so many points of view, especially older generation versus younger generation,” expressed Connelly. “I think that’s pretty exciting.”

For anyone interested in volunteering, visit www.ElmTerraceGardens.org. Karen Leidig is the Director of Volunteer Services, and her contact information can be found on the website to learn more. Connect with Elm Terrace Gardens on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and LinkedIn.