Summit Teen Helps Local Seniors Feel Less Isolated

Summit NJ

04 March, 2021

8:00 PM

Description

SUMMIT, NJ — Summit resident Rowan Carpenter, 16, remembers when he decided to do something nice to help seniors during COVID-19. He was on a Zoom call with students, parents and guidance counselors at his school, Union County Vocational-Technical, discussing remote learning. The kids said they felt isolated. "We call it virtually isolated," Ryan said. He thought about older adults who live alone and how they might feel, too. Years ago, his great grandfather delivered Meals on Wheels, and more recently, his father, Brian did as well. This gave Rowan the idea of connecting with SAGE, a Summit-based nonprofit that delivers meals and support to the needy via Meals on Wheels. SAGE, founded in 1954, delivers to seniors and others who need their services in Summit, Millburn/Short Hills, Berkeley Heights, Chatham, New Providence, Mountainside, and Springfield. Half of seniors served by the organization live alone, and 65 percent of those rarely see anyone but the volunteers. Rowan came up with the idea of collecting items from local residents to create gift bags that he would help hand deliver. He made flyers and his father created a Facebook page, "Make a Senior Smile." He shared the flyer with different groups who then shared it with their friends. The Carpenters also put a donation box outside their front door. People donated blankets, kitchen towels, soaps, socks, mugs and much more. "I wanted the clients, who aren't able to get out, to know they are not alone," Rowan said. "I wanted them to know people care." Amy Stuart, SAGE's volunteer coordinator, said she was awed by Rowan's commitment to making this happen and orchestrating it so beautifully. "Rowan's act of kindness is just overwhelming and the impact he made on these people is really remarkable." Rowan estimates that with the help of his mother, Michelle Miller, they were able to put together 100 plus bags. He recently went out with a Meals-on-Wheels volunteer and delivered bags to a number of very surprised clients. "Everyone was so appreciative, you could tell it meant so much to them," he said. Asked how he felt doing something so kind and thoughtful, he answered, "Thank you (SAGE) for giving me the opportunity." Last year, SAGE delivered 50,000 meals to seniors and others amid the pandemic. Read more about that here. For additional ways to support SAGE, visit their website www.sageeldercare.org. Find out more contact information here. Be the first on your block to get Summit Patch breaking news updates when they happen, or sign up for a daily morning newsletter of local news. Sign up and give your preferences here. This story is part of Patch's Headlining Hope series, which profiles local nonprofits and charitable organizations in need of volunteers and resources. If you know of a local organization that should be profiled, contact [email protected]. Got news? Email [email protected]. Got photos? Please include express written permission from the photographer for us to use them. To be the first to get free news alerts with breaking stories in your town, or to get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts or daily newsletters.