Summer Volunteer Events at Golden Eagle Senior Center

Throughout the summer, Heartquest volunteers dedicated their time to connecting with residents at the Golden Eagle Senior Center, creating meaningful interactions that enriched both the lives of the seniors and the young volunteers. This ongoing program focused on fostering intergenerational relationships through shared activities, conversations, and mutual learning.

Event Overview:

Over six weeks, a team of 12 volunteers visited the senior center twice weekly, engaging in a variety of planned activities and casual interactions. The program aimed to reduce social isolation among seniors while providing volunteers with valuable life skills and a deeper understanding of aging and community care.

Volunteer Team:

• Volunteer Coordinators: Alex Sun & Shenzhi Lin
• Other Volunteers: Ruiyan Chen, Ronnie Zheng, Haoran Zhong, Phoebe Li, Ethan Zheng, and additional team members

Activities & Highlights:

• Organized weekly game sessions (bingo, card games, and board games) with 25+ regular senior participants
• Facilitated craft workshops creating summer-themed decorations and memory journals
• Assisted with outdoor garden activities and walking clubs
• Hosted a "Story Exchange" where seniors shared life experiences and volunteers shared perspectives on modern youth culture
• Planned a special end-of-summer ice cream social attended by 42 seniors and their families
• Volunteers collectively contributed 280+ service hours

Impact & Growth:

For seniors, the program brought consistent social interaction, mental stimulation, and a renewed sense of connection to the younger generation. Volunteers developed strong communication skills, empathy, and leadership abilities as they planned activities and adapted to the needs of the senior participants. Many volunteers noted gaining a new appreciation for the wisdom and life experiences of older adults.

Feedback:

"These young volunteers brought so much joy to our center this summer. Their energy and willingness to listen made each week something to look forward to. It's beautiful to see the connections forming between generations." — Vivian, Golden Eagle Senior Center Manager

"Volunteering at the senior center taught me more than I expected. Hearing their stories about life decades ago helped me put my own challenges in perspective. I'll definitely continue volunteering here." — Yuny, Heartquest Volunteer (12th grade)