My mother, Liam, Ben and I went to the City Meals on Wheels office for the second time. City Meals on Wheels delivers packages to senior citizens who either can’t get out of their homes or don’t have the money to afford the food. We enjoyed it so much the first time because we felt that we were taking action and helping all the senior citizens in need of food. We started off our journey by taking the subway to the City Meals on Wheels office. Once we entered the building, we went into a conference room. We had met with the woman we knew from the time before, so she told us that we didn’t need an introduction to how delivering the packages works. The organizer gave us a few packages and a list of names, phone numbers, and addresses. We went from address to address delivering Christmas emergency packages which included things such as powdered milk and canned corn. Once we entered their homes, we talked to most of the elders. For example, there was one man who was blind, 101 years old and he had just lost his wife. We talked to him for a couple minutes and he stood there talking about his life and how his wife has recently passed away and how he was miserable alone. It was sad and yet interesting to hear his life story and his thoughts on his life. Most of the elders just took the package and left, and some of them didn’t show up at the door and their caretakers did instead. When we had delivered all packages, we made our way back to school.
Stretches With Elders
by Dora
During this fieldwork, we got to experience an amazing adventure with other elders! We did chair yoga with elders at JASA. We did yoga moves such as reaching your hand up in the air or trying to reach your feet. At the end of the one-hour yoga experience, we talked to the woman who taught the class and it was interesting to see her point of view. She mentioned that the elders are so passionate about this class and that they come very often. We only had a short discussion with her but it was very impactful to see the view of someone who wants to help in our society! Before and after the yoga, Ben, Liam and I had short discussions with elders such as: “Hi, how are you! What is your name?” Some of them talked a lot and told us about their lives, and others just simply sat in their chairs waiting for the lesson to begin.
by Dora
Name: Dora Social Justice Group: Date of Fieldwork: December 6, 2017 Name of Organization: Person (people) with whom I met and their job titles: Type of Fieldwork: What I did: What I learned: What I learned about Social Justice “work” and/or Civil and Human rights “work” from this fieldwork:
Interviewing Yolanda Cambell
by Dora
During this skype call, we talked to a woman named Yolanda, who is a Palliative of Care. She goes to elder’s homes and keeps them company, around 3 times a week. She helped people with dementia and Alzheimer’s and brightens people’s days. We set up questions to ask her and she had very deep and interesting answers. It was really interesting to see her point of view. She said that ever since she was a child, she knew she wanted to help out senior citizens.
Delivering meals at Meals on Wheels
by Dora
We went to an organization that delivers free meals to elders who are not able to leave their home and have trouble getting around themselves. We went around the neighborhood and we delivered fall emergency packages which included packaged and canned foods. We went to peoples homes and delivered their meals. Some of the elders talked to us for a long time, or we just handed them the meal. When we went to Anne Kelemen’s home we stayed there for a full hour discussing our lives.
