GIFT Gives Thanksgiving Meals and Offers CHAT to Seniors

Author

GIFT (Giving It Forward Together)

Posted on

Sep 20, 2021

Book/Edition

Pennsylvania - Greater Pittsburgh Area

GIFT is a grassroots organization started in 2015. GIFTs Thanksgiving to GO program provides 600 Thanksgiving kits for seniors spending the holiday at home.

Adult volunteers cook and package the perishables, assemble the nonperishables, and deliver the kits to seniors all, as the nonprofits name suggests, giving it forward together.
Now, during the pandemic, many seniors who would normally have interactions with their families are now completely isolated, staying at home and no one to speak with. GIFT is stepping up, offering an intergenerational phone matching program called CHAT. We reach as many seniors as possible. Before COVID, I dont know that everyone could understand that concept how a senior might feel, that feeling of being really lonely and out of touch said Rochel Tombosky, Founder of GIFT, But I think now that weve all experienced loneliness or not being able to be social or connect to people like we used to, we can now relate and hopefully be more empathetic.
Editors Note: This article was submitted by Rochel S. Tombosky, Founder and Executive Director, GIFT, (412) 401-5914, giftpgh@gmail.com, www.giftpgh.org

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Local Services By This Author

GIFT (Giving It Forward Together)

Volunteer Opportunities 5720 Munhall Rd, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15217

Each year GIFT serves 600+ homebound seniors through our unique holiday programs. The ages we serve range from 55 and older, these kits have no gender/race or educational bias. The commonality that runs through each of the recipients of this unique program is that without this program the individuals would NOT have a holiday meal, social interaction from the volunteers who deliver the meals, and information about social services that they can take advantage of. Can we really quantify the true sense of joy that each senior receives when they are reminded that they MATTER and aren't FORGOTTEN? At the very least these kits respond to their basic need for a nutritious meal and social engagement 400 senior recipients, 200+ volunteers from ages 6-94 years old from throughout our community, participate in making, delivering and assembling these kits.GIFT has successfully served the senior community since 2015. Our programs have been innovative and impactful. GIFTs purposeful and thoughtful programs work to combat ageism , advocate for seniors, and bring intergenerational opportunities. These programs sponsor social gatherings and intentional activities that speak to the strengths of seniors, fill them with purpose, and further empower them to maintain their independence in a mentally healthy way. GIFT has successfully touched the lives of over 1000 seniors per year, helped the needs of over 430 kids (ages 3-21) per year, and assisted over twenty nonprofits per year. GIFT is all about focusing on what seniors can do, and not what they can't.