HARVESTING HERITAGE
FOUNDATION
Forming bonds that transcend time and change lives.
ABOUT THE VIRGINIA GRAY WIDMIER
HARVESTING HERITAGE FOUNDATION
In memory of Virginia Gray Widmier, the Harvesting Heritage Foundation is proud to announce its launch this Summer 2023. Our foundation will be implemented in selected senior housing communities.
Our mission is to establish bonds between our greatest generation and the youth of today, by preserving the life experiences of our Seniors in print and aiding to the development of our newest generation!
WHAT WE DO
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Harvesting Heritage Foundation is dedicated to preserving history and fostering intergenerational relationships. We bring together the elderly and the youth while preserving the life experiences of Seniors. Our program includes:
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Youth aged 10 and up, including those who may not have a family support system or at-risk youth, will visit senior housing communities and interview residents with the help of adult volunteers
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The foundation will work with local schools and organizations to select participants, including children at risk from schools such as the Monarch School - a school for homeless children.
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The stories will be chronicled, written by the youth with the help of adult volunteers, and reviewed by the senior residents
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The stories will be published and presented to the Seniors and their families.
Through our program, we aim to document the life experiences of Seniors, challenge the youth's listening, recording, organizing, and writing abilities, and form bonds that transcend time. The Seniors will serve as mentors for the youth, providing them with life lessons and guidance, promoting social connections, and reducing loneliness. The foundation provides an opportunity for Seniors to share their life stories that may otherwise be lost and have these stories in print for future generations to learn from.
THE BENEFITS
OF HARVESTING HERITAGE FOUNDATION
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Developing educational skills: The interviews and writing process will challenge the youth's listening, recording, organizing, and writing abilities.
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Fostering relationships: By conducting the interviews, the youth will learn about the daily lives of past generations and form bonds that transcend time.
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Mentorship: The Seniors & the adult volunteers will serve as mentors for the youth, providing them with life lessons and guidance.
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Companionship: The program will provide companionship for both elders and youth, promoting social connections and reducing loneliness.
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Sharing stories: The foundation will provide an opportunity for Seniors to share their life stories that may otherwise be lost and have these stories in print for future generations to learn from.