Lori LaFave made lives better in small consistent ways. It is with that same humble and giving spirit that Lori’s Hands volunteers serve their communities. Lori, who lived in Voorheesville, NY, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995 and died in 2003. Lori’s daughter, Sarah, founded Lori’s Hands in her mother’s memory during her sophomore year at the University of Delaware.
Sarah and her classmates at the University of Delaware aimed to create a meaningful volunteer experience for college students and to improve quality of life for people living with chronic illness. Our mission has since evolved to accomplish both of those goals in the context of service learning, in hopes of also transforming students’ understanding of chronic illness and community health.