Following the events of April 16, 2007, Virginia Tech's Adult Day Services activity director, Ila Schepisi channeled her active seniors' overwhelming desire to give back to the community and formed the Caring Hands organization.

The Adult Day Services group, part of the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, is dedicated to executing gestures of hospitality and appreciation across the community.

During that time of tragedy, Schepisi says she heard her members repeating a recurring theme. She noticed that they, like others throughout the community, expressed an overwhelming desire to help in some way, to “do something.” Since valuing the individual is inherent to Adult Day Services’ person-centered philosophy, she says she wanted to empower these seniors with the opportunity to act on their emotions.

Schepisi began an ongoing conversation with her participants and discovered they had a lot of good ideas and intentions, but didn’t quite know where to start. When the group agreed to focus on developing a community connection, their ideas really began to take off. Borrowing the name Caring Hands from her church’s outreach program, Schepisi’s group brainstormed to pinpoint activities that would be both helpful and realistic. They were led by two primary considerations: Whom do we want to help and what can we do for them?

The outcome? Since the April tragedy, several Adult Day Services members have met weekly to plan the execution of simple gestures of hospitality and appreciation across their community. Their first event provided breakfast and lunch goodies for the Virginia Tech Police Department as a way of showing gratitude. “They do so much to keep us safe,” one participant said. “Doing something nice for them seemed only natural, and good food has a wonderful way of saying thank you.”

Motivated by the success of this first activity, Caring Hands participants say they were eager to continue, this time selecting the nurses of Montgomery Regional Hospital in Blacksburg as the recipient of their efforts. Best Wishes Florist in Blacksburg donated carnations, which Caring Hands members arranged in vases, attached appreciative expressions about nurses to the vases, and delivered to the hospital.

To provide a little bit of comfort food, Caring Hands next baked, frosted, and delivered 37 dozen cupcakes to the various College of Engineering departments at Virginia Tech. For their efforts, Caring Hands received numerous responses expressing gratitude.

Once motivated, this group kept coming up with more ways to give. Next, they branched out past the local community, they sent “purple hearts” to children attending Operation Purple Camp Virginia, a camp for children whose parents are serving in the military.

Penned on the back of each heart was the message: “Presented to you for lending your parent to the U.S. military.” The hearts were so popular the camp has asked have them sent again next year. Honored with the request, Caring Hands members say they are already considering design upgrades.

In the interim, the group prepared Brunswick stew for the Virginia Tech Rescue Squad, served hot cocoa to students returning in January for the spring semester, and made blankets for the national organization Project Linus, which provides new blankets and afghans for seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise stressed children.

About 20 volunteers have contributed more than 90 hours of service to the VT-ENGAGE volunteer service initiative hours served totals, with Schepisi recording their efforts on the website.

To show the Caring Hands group that their efforts are appreciated, Schepisi and other Adult Day Services staffers constructed a pictorial gallery documenting the group’s activities. Images of the ongoing work decked the walls of the Wallace Hall Gallery located on the first floor of the Wallace Hall Atrium on the Virginia Tech campus. A nearby display area was filled with multitudes of thank you notes received by the group. Viewing the exhibit for the first time, one tearful participant said: “This makes me so proud.” Schepisi speaks fondly of these caring and giving elders. “People don’t do much of this kind of thing anymore,” she says, “but these folks instituted some old-time neighborly hospitality.”

She also noted that doing something for others seems instinctive to the older generations, who tend to reach out in very real and practical ways. Personally, she admitted that helping participants in this volunteer effort was difficult for her at times. Looking back though, she says it has also been personally rewarding for her to see “the love and hope that comes through this type of act.” Schepisi says she believes working through uncomfortable reactions helps to promote healing.

“Staying social and connected is important to maintaining a positive and productive life,” she said. The Adult Day Services encourages interested volunteers to help out with tasks, projects, and people in need of your “caring hands.” Contact Ila Schepisi at (540) 231-3161 for more information.

Written by Sharon Crane.

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