Third Year is a Charm

Take Me Out to the Ballgame! Thanks to all who have already bought their tickets for Link Generations 3^rd Annual Picnic at the Bethesda Big Train Baseball Game. Tickets are still available for this year’s event Thursday, June 6, 5:30pm, Rain or Shine, Shirley Povich Field, 10300 Westlake Drive, Bethesda, MD 20852. Tickets are $25, free for volunteers, which includes the picnic and watching the summer collegiate baseball game. This is a fun event for the whole family. Bring your grandparents and make it an intergenerational celebration. Kids get to run the bases!

Donations to Link Generations support our mission of connecting youth and older adults. Link Generations is a 501(c)3 organization and donations are tax deductible. If you can’t make it to the event, please consider making a contribution to support tickets for volunteers who will be honored at the picnic. Thank you to the Jim and Carol Trawick Foundation for supporting this event!

Spring Programs Connect Volunteers Ages 11 to 103

A 92 year old resident summed up Link Generations programs: “This program works. It may not always work the way you think it will, but it always works.”

This is how it works:

15 Newport Academy students shared their love for music with 10 residents at Ingleside at King Farm. Intergenerational groups selected songs from different decades to share together and discovered that themes in music are long lasting. Songs like “Count on Me” by Bruno Mars and Elvis’ “I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You” inspired the group to sing and tap along to the beat. One student remarked, “It is great to see the language of music through the generations. This is really special.”

Link Generations worked with Charity Connect to host McLean School’s Day of Service at Ingleside at King Farm. 24 McLean School seniors spent time with 15 Ingleside seniors, learning about independent living, assisted living, careers in aging, and the benefits of spending time together. One student commented, “Sometimes giving people your time is all that’s needed to make a difference.”

Middle and high school volunteers met at Charles E. Smith Life Communities Ring House for 7 weekly Link Generations Group meetings and 4 monthly programs. Participants of all ages enjoyed painting pictures of cherry blossoms, teaching each other how to play UNO, dancing to songs from different decades, and learning about each other’s histories. One new student was thrilled to talk to a 103-year-old. The student said, “WOW!” He couldn’t believe the resident was able to tell him about the Great Depression, something he studied in school. Another resident joining Link Generations for the first time said, “I enjoyed this. We all got to learn something new.”

Club Connections

Recruiting Link Generations Club leaders: now is the time to start next year’s club at your school to plan intergenerational activities for you and your friends. Earn SSL hours, practice communication skills, build your college resume, meet interesting people of all ages, and have fun!

Contact lori@linkgenerations.org for more information on how to start a club.

Upcoming Programs

2019 Link Generations Summer Storytelling Series

Link Generations is running its third Summer Storytelling Series at Ingleside at King Farm Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:30-4pm, June 25-August 8. Middle school and high school student volunteers meet Tuesdays for training and education about principles of aging, best practices for working with older adults, and leadership skills. Student volunteers lead intergenerational programs Thursdays with Ingleside residents. Student volunteers must commit to attending a minimum of four weeks.

Dates:

• June 25
• June 27
• July 9
• July 11
• July 16
• July 18
• July 23
• July 25
• July 30
• August 1
• August 6
• August 8

2019-2020 Monthly Intergenerational Program at Ring House

Planning for the next school year? Middle school and high school students lead monthly intergenerational activities at Charles E. Smith Life Communities Ring House Sundays, 1-3pm.

Dates for next year:

• Sept. 15
• Oct. 20
• Nov. 17
• Dec. 15
• Jan. 12
• Feb. 9
• March 15
• April 19