In a display of community spirit, a group of senior volunteers from Carrollton and Richardson get together to create holiday cards for patients at the Clements University Hospital.
The mission is to spread holiday cheer and support to more than 50 community organizations across Dallas, addressing pressing issues such as food insecurity, education and other societal challenges.
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Each month, the group visits locations in Dallas, including the Arboretum, Ronald McDonald House, VolunteerNow, UT Southwestern, Reading Partners, Readers to Leaders, Crossroads and many others.
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The visits not only provid assistance but also highlight the emotional and mental benefits of volunteering.
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"Here are some of us without husband... and I didn't know that it is so important to keep ourselves busy," said Yasmeen Ali, member of "The Golden Girls" .
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Th program is specifically designed to provide older adults with meaningful opportunities to volunteer, thereby helping to decrease the prevalence of depression and loneliness -- a struggle faced by over 40% of older adults, according to the National Library of Medicine.
"It's so hard to express what we feel, because we are giving back to community, but actually we are also helping ourselves... We get more selfconfidence, and we also feel no depression, no anxiety" Ali said.
These efforts are organized by Michael Dade, a senior RSVP coordinator of the group and has been with the group for 8 years. During that time, Dade has coordinated the scheduling and transportation of these volunteers to their designated work sites.
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"Almost every day I see a wreck. My main job is to get the volunteers from their location to their workstation safe and back safe" Dade said.
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Participants said they often experience reduced levels of depression and anxiety, along with a renewed sense of self-confidence and purpose.
"It's so good to encourage each and everyone who is sitting home and doing nothing, depressing and sitting all the time and watching TV," said Fatima Patel volunteer group. "You become sick, you know, and you get affected physically, mentally and emotionally."
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Among their many activities, the volunteers take special pride in creating holiday cards for patients at Clements University Hospital, with plans to distribute during the week of Dec. 23.
"It's so important to go out with doing something else and make a difference for the community," Patel said.
Those interested in joining the volunteering group can visit their website and register.
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