The Heyman Interages®Center is a program
of JCA® - Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington.
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THE INTERAGES CONNECTOR
STAYING CONNECTED WHILE STAYING HOME
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Staying in Touch
Hello JCA Interages Volunteers,
We are now planning ahead for our summer and fall programming. There is still uncertainty as to when in-person volunteering can resume. But we are alerting all our volunteers that for both virtual and in-person volunteering, MCPS and some community organizations require fingerprinting and badging, as well as taking an online webinar (Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse). We have information for anyone who wants to prepare for volunteering in schools and other organizations requiring background checks. Fingerprinting and badging is not required for our SHARE from a Distance program.
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We would love to learn about you and your volunteer experience as well as your ideas for programming and partnering with other organizations. To share your thoughts, please contact Indira Dingledine at idingledine@accessjca.org or (301) 255 - 4239. |
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Kathi Dennis, Senior Director of JCA Heyman Interages, presenting a Certificate of Appreciation to Austin Heyman Volunteer Service Award recipient Bill Torrey. |
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Kay Klass, 2021 Margaret Cutler Award Recipient |
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The Jewish Council for the Aging® saluted our awesome volunteers during an agency-wide 1st Virtual Volunteer Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers for your dedication to service. This year, among other JCA awardees, two Interages volunteers received special mention for their distinguished service.
Bill Torrey received the Austin Heyman Volunteer Service Award. The Austin Heyman Volunteer Service Award is named after the founder of Interages. Austin started Interages more than 30 years ago after learning about intergenerational programs. This award honors an individual who has made significant contributions to intergenerational volunteer programing in his/her community through his/her time, actions, talents, and dedication.
Kay Klass received the Margaret Cutler Award, which is named in honor of Interages’ first Board President. It is given each year to an individual who shows excellence in developing, implementing, or supporting intergenerational programs in Montgomery County.
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SHARE From A Distance
SHARE From A Distance provides meaningful connections between young people and older adults.
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JOIN SHARE FROM A DISTANCE AND BECOME A PEN PAL
Are you or someone you know interested in being matched with a young person to exchange letters back and forth? Build a relationship with a young person during this difficult time when people of ALL ages are feeling isolated and eager to make connections. Only first names are given and all correspondence is filtered through JCA staff.
You can choose to write to a student via email or postal mail. We need more older adults to match with the many interested students. For more info. or to sign up, please email sharefromadistance@accessjca.org. Thanks for your help and support!
From a middle school student to his pen pal:
"I thank you so much for everything, I feel like I don't say it enough actually. But you have truly made a huge impact in my life!"
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Sweet crochet pieces that a student pen pal has sent her older adult pen pal. She sent the sheep because her pen pal recommended a song for her to listen to entitled "Sheep may safely graze." |
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Interages Interview
Interages was so pleased with the Zoom interview conducted by a young person of Interages Founder Austin Heyman that we started a regular interview program. The students earn Service Learning hours for their time preparing and interviewing. Previous interviews are available on our website.
In this issue, we highlight Maame, a dedicated volunteer and 12th-grade student, who interviewed Theresa Wright, retired Parent Coordinator for the Montgomery County Schools. To view the interview, click here.
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ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY |
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FOOD DRIVE: JCA PARTNERED IN GOOD DEEDS WEEK |
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Thank you to everyone who donated food and other items during the JCA Interages (space) “Good Deeds Week” two-day food drive. The food drive was part of an endeavor by organizations around the world that coordinated community service events.
We collected donations at six Montgomery County food distribution hubs, regularly feeding thousands of people.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington coordinated with area organizations for Good Deeds Week. Good Deeds Week was a resounding success - 60+ Jewish community organizations launched nearly 50 events, with approximately 2,300 volunteers and participants mobilized to do good. Over 3,000 meals were prepared. Over 37,000 cans were donated.
In keeping with the Interages intergenerational mission, the JCA Interages Food Drive included young "helpers." We want to thank especially the JCA Food Drive helpers who unloaded donations from cars and carried them into the sites.
Our helpers were Wualter (13), Mathew (18), Ben (14), and Amy (13). Wualter said when helping, "It feels so good to help." Wualter is Bilingual, speaking both Spanish and English. He used his Spanish skills when speaking with people coming to the site requesting food. Ben's mother said Ben had a wonderful time and he was impressed by the food distribution hub's organization. Amy and Ben helped prepare boxes for the hub's weekly food distribution.
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Celebrate Cicadas and Other Cool Bugs!
Montgomery County Public Libraries brings you a virtual course about Brood X Cicadas that are ready to appear above ground any day now. Learn more about these amazing bugs on May 17. For more information, click here.
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Touching Story
A professor gave a balloon to every student, who had to inflate it, write their name on it and throw it in the hallway. The professor then mixed all the balloons. The students were then given 5 minutes to find their own balloon. Despite a hectic search, no one found their balloon.
At that point, the professor told the students to take the first balloon that they found and hand it to the person whose name was written on it. Within 5 minutes, everyone had their own balloon.
The professor said to the students: "These balloons are like happiness. We will never find it if everyone is looking for their own. But if we care about other people's happiness, we'll find ours too."
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“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
– Maya Angelou
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For your convenience, past issues of the JCA Interages Connector are available on the JCA Interages website.
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Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington
"Jewish Council for the Aging", "JCA", "Helping All Seniors Thrive" and "Interages" are registered trademarks of the Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington, Inc. Visit us at AccessJCA.org.© 2021 Jewish Council for the Aging® All rights reserved.
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