LOFT Adopt-A-Senior

Roza Kolonjari and Shiva Khalilnia have been best friends for more than twenty years.  Both come from families where sharing, giving and helping were just part of everyday life and both grew up knowing what it was like to do something positive for others.  

When they met, their shared desire to help people in need created an instant synergy which became a powerful bond.  They are not only best friends, they also work together.  And together they have created Adopt-a-Senior.

The women are always looking for causes where their efforts will have the greatest benefits, and are involved in many things.  But when they discovered the LOFT seniors programs, the connection was immediate and the Adopt-a-Senior project was the result. 

They feel that with Adopt-a-Senior they are carrying forward the legacy of their own grandparents with whom both had strong bonds.

First, they recruited their mothers and sisters to help prepare a Thanksgiving dinner for LOFT seniors.  Then the program expanded to Easter as well.  Now, a great deal of the energy, and most of their fundraising, is focused around the holiday season. 

The women begin in February, planning, organizing, discussing the logistics, recruiting and inspiring others.  Volunteer team leaders each take responsibility for a group of LOFT seniors, recruiting and inspiring others to help.  Then the teams ask each senior for their Christmas Wish List, raise the money they need and buy each client a gift.  

Each gift is individually wrapped and addressed to the specific client with a hand written note, and delivered at a party hosted and catered by the volunteers.  Dozens of volunteers are involved and more than a hundred donors.

It is a huge amount of work, and they admit there are moments when they ask themselves “Why?”  Roza shares the secret of their motivation. “At the end of the day, it’s really selfish.  We get so much satisfaction out of this.”  “It’s even more fun than buying new shoes,” Shiva laughs. 

Roza and Shiva quickly point that they are just the starting point.  The real credit goes to the truly amazing people who come on board so willingly.  It is hard work, especially when there are over 600 gifts that need to be wrapped and labelled.  Shiva’s message to the volunteers:  “I know it’s tough right now, but the day you come to the party and give these gifts, you won’t believe how good you will feel!”

Click Here to print the Adopt-a-Senior Donation Form