Senior Community Service

Without community service, we would not have a strong quality of life. It's important to the person who serves as well as the recipient. It is the way in which we ourselves grow and develop. 

A village doctor in a poor farming area organized an elderly care center after recognizing the many elderly are dying off due to isolation, inactivity, and sedentary habits. Most elderly are poor, suffer physical limitations, and lack family connections. The doctor rents a large room in the village office building for senior folk to gather and socialize. In the care center, activities are organized to keep the elderly active with finger dexterity, cognitive and memory, and other social skills which improve health. 

The NGO (non-government organization) is involved with elder care facilities in three Eastern Slovakia villages. The goal is to actively engage elderly clients with physical and creative activities to improve their quality of life and overcome depression, loneliness, and health issues due to being sedentary.

These crafts will provide physical and cognitive activities for persons suffering from multiple physical and mental illnesses.

LDS Charities provided a sewing machine, a knitting machine, skeins of yarn, and various other craft materials to the center. 

The seniors will knit clothes to donate to the local hospital for newborn and preemie babies.

Other supplies will be used to create sell-able items sold at booths and shops. The profit from the sale will purchase additional items needed to replenish the supplies.

A closing ceremony was filled with food and joy as these elderly shuffled into a room to thank LDS Charities for the donated items.

The village mayor stood and spoke of his gratefulness and thanked us abundantly for bringing life back into the center.

As Bonnie L. Oscarson observed, "There is no age barrier when it comes to Christ-like service."