It’s been a challenging year since the COVID-19 pandemic upended our lives and changed the way most of us interact with the world and each other.
At Lori’s Hands, we have transitioned to a contactless model that still allows community members and volunteers to interact, connect and nurture their unique relationships. Together, they have shown that meaningful companionship takes many forms, whether it’s writing letters, talking on the phone during a virtual visit, helping with yard work or running errands in the community.
We know how much these activities mean for our community members and student volunteers. We’re also excited to see that others have noticed it, too.
Lori’s Hands was recently highlighted in University of Delaware President Dennis Assanis’ annual report. Our organization was recognized as an example of how engagement and service can help forge student leaders.
The report – you can see where we are mentioned here – also celebrates the expansion of Lori’s Hands in Baltimore, as well as the work being done at Eastern Michigan University to continue our growth.
It includes a quote from Lori’s Hands co-founder Liz Bonomo, who talks about the personal relationships that develop between students and clients. “It’s almost become like a second family,” she said.
Like President Assanis, we believe in the power of service learning. We’ve heard from our students about how their experiences with Lori’s Hands have improved their communication skills, helped them better how others live and given them a stronger sense of empathy. These are skills they carry with them into the classroom, workplace, and community.
We are grateful to be able to continue fostering such strong connections, both in Newark and in Baltimore.
