8/8/2019 Holiday Project 1986

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The West Side SpiritReprinted from THE WEST S IDE SPIRI T October 13, 1986

The Holiday ProjectVisits Lonely, Elderly

BV Donica O'Bradovich

There was much huggingand kissingon the comerof 42ndStreetand 6th Avenue one recentmorning. Someof the peopletherehadn't seen each other in a long time and embracedas oldfriends;otherssimplyembracedbecausethe spiritmoved them.One of them wonderedif they "lookedcrazy:'

To the casualobserver,it looked likepreparationsfor the day'sRiver to RiverStreetFair; to the trainedeye, the fiftyvolunteersofthe HolidayProject were gettingready to celebratean early RoshHashanahwith the residentsof the Daughtersof Jacob GeriatricCenter in the Bronx. Bearing gifts from Estee Lauder, smiles,and more hugsand kisses,the volunteersbegan thefirstHolidayProjectvisitof the holidayseason.

The non-profitgroup,whichwas founded in 1971,plansvisitsto those who are alone for the holidays. In 1981, they officiallybecame a Public BenefitCorporation,and, according to theChairpersonofthe GreaterNewYork CityChapterMarciaSloman,the Holiday Projecthas 32 chapters nationwide, with20,000volunteersvisiting around the country, and 3,000 visiting inNewYork alone.

"We plan at least six visits a year, but the big visits come atChristmasand Hanukah;' she said.The organizationhas visitednursing homes, psychiatric wards andprisons throughout theyears. Accordingto organizers,Daughtersof Jacob is one of thefacilitiesthat they havevisitedseveral times.

"Here we are, Hello!" said Andy Schwartz, one of the groupleaders. Slowly, the residents began to accept thegifts and singthe songs.Someof the volunteerscoaxeda residentinto singingLet Me Call You Sweetheart, whileothers talkedand exchangedaddresseswith the residents.Somejustheld handsfor a longtime.

Membersof theHolidayProjectestimatethatthere aretwo million people alonefor the holidays throughout the country, andthe purpose of the gruup is, accordingto them, "People BeingWith People:'

"Onmy firstvisit,Iwouldn't go intoa roomalonebecauseIwasafraidand Iwas u p s e ~ 'said MarshallStone,a volunteerand organizer of the Daughtersof Jacob visit "Really just holding theirhand is morethanenough:'Organizinga visittakes much organizationand cooperation, accordingto Stone,and v;uiouscommittees within the projectare set up to phonevolunteers, wrapgifts,and scoutout a particularfacility.

Sincethe group is non-profit, fundsare raised through donations, contributions,and corporatematchinggifts. Sloman estimates that about$15,000 is needed for one fiscalyear to run theorganizationin NewYork. Nobodyexceptthe executivedirectorgets paid.

"We 're not abou t t o cure a disease, so it'snot easy to get the publicity that some benefitsmight get !' B b Sull- ar ara y

"We're not ready to do Jerry Lewis' Telethon, but we're notabout to cure a disease,so it's not easy to get the publicity thatsome benefitsmightget;' said BarbaraSully, a volunteerfor 10years,who is the public relations managerin the Northeast Shesays that the group has receivedrecognitionnationally."But it'simportant notto losethe autonomyofthe localchapters;' shesaid.

Volunteerscomefrom differentbackgroundsand careers,andoften use theirskills in managerial positions.Somesimply comealongon the visits.Theyacknowledgethat theseare not easy.

'When we started this, mostof us were in our twenties; saidSully. ''Now thatwe're in our thirties andforties, itbecomesmorereal. There are peoplewe visitwho areout of it or just sit in themeeting room andcry. We leave a gift and talk to them, hopingin someway they'll realizesomeonecares andthen we move on.It's very difficultbecausewe go therewithsuchan incrediblyhighintention:'