News Release
Just pulling the fitted sheet over the corner of the bed, wheeling the heavy trash cans to the curb or the thought of standing on a step-ladder to change a light bulb are a few examples of how youth volunteers pitch in each week to lend a helping hand with household chores for seniors in Ventura County.
Ventura County CAREGIVERS’ Building Bridges Intergenerational program marks its 20th anniversary this year, with nearly 600 high school students having provided volunteer services for more than 1,000 area seniors over the last two decades as part of this special after school program.
Building Bridges is a volunteer program in which high school students ages 14-18 provide much-needed help to the elderly in their communities. Small groups of students visit frail, homebound seniors after school or on the weekends for about an hour. After getting to know them, the students provide assistance, usually involving light household chores, gardening, decorating for the holidays or simple tech support; things that are often difficult for the elderly to get done.
“Students experience a real-life history lesson through these visits with local seniors. Also, it is a great way for students to accumulate credits for community service requirements and valuable experience for inclusion on college applications,” explains Tammy Glenn, Executive Director of CAREGIVERS.
Area high school students learn some of the challenges seniors face every day, from arthritis and neuropathy, to hearing and vision challenges.
“I like to volunteer because I realized that many seniors sometimes can’t do some tasks as they get older, but I can. It makes me happy to help,” said Oxnard Student Isabella.
Building Bridges staff will train and educate high school student volunteers on the realities of volunteering with the elderly and will connect the students with area seniors in need. High school seniors in the program may also have the opportunity to apply for a small CAREGIVERS scholarship if they are applying to college. Applications from high schoolers for the Building Bridges Intergenerational program are being accepted now. Visit: www.vccaregivers.org or call (805) 658-8530.
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