Grand Prize: Reaching Out to the Elderly

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WHAT WE DO:
LINDA:
"Our daughter, Emily, founded Kingston Kids Care, a youth volunteer group that provides the elderly with companionship, meals, and financial assistance. Seven years later, about a dozen kids make up the organization, and our whole family is committed to it."

EMILY:
"Kingston Kids Care has sponsored all sorts of fund-raisers -- hop-a-thons at a local preschool, raffle ticket sales, a concession stand at the ball field, and donation cans around town. We've raised about thirty thousand dollars that have gone toward different programs, like the home-heating or pharmacy help programs. We've donated about fifteen thousand dollars to the future senior center. Still, I've learned that the best gift you can give is your time and companionship."

HOW WE GOT INVOLVED:
EMILY:
"In fourth grade, I wanted to volunteer for something. My mother and I went with the Council on Aging director to deliver meals, and I decided to get involved."

WHAT INSPIRES US:
EMILY:
"I've just fallen in love with the elderly. And the whole town has come together for this cause."

LINDA:
"Emily inspires me. You always imagine you are going to inspire your kid, but she taught us that you can truly make a difference."

DANIEL:
"I play my saxophone. I hear them sing along, and I know that they're enjoying it."

THE IMPACT:
EMILY:
"We visit a ninety-two-year-old woman, Aunt Edna, and we play Chinese checkers. Last year, the local cable television station interviewed Edna and me and asked her, 'Do you appreciate Emily coming down?' Aunt Edna started crying. She said, 'She has no idea how much I appreciate her. She and her kids are the best thing that happened to me.'"

WHY IT'S WIN-WIN:
EMILY:
"You can learn so much from the elderly, just sitting down and listening to their stories. It's amazing!"

LINDA:
"I've seen how much volunteering has helped Emily. She was so shy. By dealing with people -- just asking for donations -- I've seen her grow out of her shyness."

PRIZE-MONEY PLANS: New furnishings for the Kingston Senior Center.

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