Friendships blossom from Adelante visits
A few miles north of Electronic Systems' Norwalk campus is the Notre Dame Convalescent Home. This modest facility provides care for nearly 70 elderly residents, many of whom have significantly limited mobility or other serious health conditions.
A little more than two years ago, the residents who live at Notre Dame were by all accounts complete strangers to their corporate neighbor. Today, however, some very special friendships have blossomed between them and the members of the Nowalk, Conn., chapter of Adelante, thanks to the seeds planted during what was originally planned as a one-time service project.
Adelante is one of Electronic Systems' Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), voluntary, employee-driven associations organized around a particular interest or characteristic, such as race, ethnicity or gender. Today, the Adelante Hispanic Employee Resource Group has approximately 519 members across seven chapters.
"Almost immediately after our chapter was formed in December 2007, our members expressed interest in finding a unique opportunity to give back to the community," said Maria Ribeiro, chair of Adelante's Norwalk chapter. "There were a number of charitable and community efforts under way at the company and sector-wide levels, as well as activities sponsored by other ERGs. So we thought it was important to identify an unmet need in the community that also resonated with our members."
What Adelante soon discovered was that while there were already a number of campus efforts focused on children, veterans, the homeless and the environment, there weren't any specific company or employee programs dedicated to senior citizens in the Norwalk community — a group Ribeiro says is very much in need. "They are the forgotten citizens in our society," she said.
Once Adelante determined it wanted to work with senior citizens, it didn't take long for the group to identify the Notre Dame Convalescent Home as a good fit. "We called the home to express our interest in doing something special for their residents and find out what it was they needed," said Ribeiro. "We learned that more than anything else the residents were in need of visitors."
With that feedback in hand, Adelante planned a visit in time for the Christmas holiday. The group held a gift drive and put together small care packages for every resident of the home. With one employee dressed as Santa Claus and another as an elf, the group headed to the home where they personally delivered a beautifully wrapped package to every resident. The team then spent time getting to know the residents and joining them for a few games of bingo.
"When we went to visit the home that first time, we really didn't know what to expect," said Ribeiro. "But what we found was an immediate connection; the residents enjoyed having us there and we enjoyed being there."
The event was such a success that Adelante decided to continue the relationship. Since that first Christmas, the group as planned regular outings. Last Valentine's Day, for example, Adelante delivered teddy bears and other holiday-themed treats to the home. The group also held a toiletry drive for Thanksgiving, collecting things such as hand lotions and shampoos for the residents.
Wanting to do even more, the group inquired to see what else the home might need. Notre Dame said it could use help with gardening, so volunteers planted new shrubs and flowers and added fresh mulch to the mulch beds. "For many of the residents, the only outdoor time they have is on the grounds of the home, so it's important for the area to be cheerful and welcoming," said Ribeiro.
For residents at the home who don't have family or friends living nearby, the Adelante members are among the only regular visitors they see. As a result, Ribeiro says one of the unexpected benefits has been the close bond that has formed.
"Each time we visit, it's a mood lifter for the residents," she said. "We don't just poke our heads into their room and say hello. We stay and talk with them and do things like play games or help them take a walk outside. In some cases, our employees and the residents have become quite close. There's an emotional attachment."
One example she points to is a friendship that has formed with a resident who is more than 100 years old and has lived in Norwalk her entire life. "She has given us an amazing gift in the stories she tells about famous landmarks, how things have changed over the years, and the interesting people she's met," said Ribeiro.
As with all ERG events, each Adelante visit to the home is open to all Norwalk employees and the group hopes more employees will get involved.
As for the relationship between Adelante and the Notre Dame Convalescent Home, the feeling of gratitude and friendship is mutual. Just recently, Adelante received a letter of appreciation from the home thanking its members for all they've done this past year. Ribeiro says she sees no end to the relationship. In fact, the group is in the process of planning its next outing.
"These people are where all of us could be one day in the future. It really gives you a new perspective on how important it is to care for the elders of our society," said Ribeiro. "If it's been a while since you've visited a family member who is in a retirement home or who lives alone, take a few hours this month to go and spend some time with them. It will bring so much happiness to them to know they are loved."
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