At Cardiff by the Sea’s Belmont Village Senior Living residents have embraced philanthropy as a way to help enrich the lives of others, and their own.
Belmont Village residents have spent this past year supporting their selected cause Just in Time for Foster Youth (JIT), a local nonprofit that helps former foster youth who have aged out of foster care to build self-sufficient futures once they are out on their own. Seniors have put their talents to work and tuned their compassion into action, logging over 1,200 volunteer hours, knitting clothes, purses, blankets and beanies to sell at craft fairs and farmers markets. Through a variety of fundraisers they have so far raised $6,000 for JIT with a goal to hit $10,000 by the end of the year.
Belmont Village’s Just in Time booth at a recent event. (Clare Hollerback)
“Our residents thrive on making a difference in other’s lives,” said Clare Hollerback, activity program coordinator at Belmont Village Senior Living. “Their resilience to face whatever comes their way is most probably based on their generous hearts …collectively!”
With a heart for seniors, Hollerback has been at Belmont Village for 10 years and has served in many roles including bus driver, concierge, teacher and now is in charge of all activities. Every year she gets the residents involved in a philanthropic effort, with a beneficiary selected every January by a resident council. In the past they have supported Shriners Children’s and the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and last year they were proud to raise $10,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
This year they decided to help JIT and the young adults ages 18 to 26 who are transitioning out of the foster care system without essential family support. JIT provides help so the young adults can become “confident, capable and connected,” assisting with basic needs and furniture, education, reliable transportation, meaningful employment, financial literacy and overall wellness.
In March, 12 JIT youth came to Belmont Village to meet the residents and share about themselves.
Belmont Village’s Just in Time booth at a recent event. (Clare Hollerback)
Belmont Village Senior Living Cardiff resident Elizabeth spends four to six hours a day knitting items to support Just in Time. (Clare Hollerback)
Cardiff residents won the award for Most Philanthropic at a recent Belmont Village Senior Living Met Gala for their efforts supporting Just in Time for foster youth. (Clare Hollerback)
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Belmont Village’s Just in Time booth at a recent event. (Clare Hollerback)
“After the meeting here with some of the JIT youth, it broke my heart to hear their stories to just get by each day on their own,” said resident Zabel Petrosian. “I am here to help these youth and will knit and crochet and donate whatever I can to help raise money for their future. I just finished two large blankets to sell for our next fundraiser!”
“These JIT youth have been thrust into society with very little means and necessities,” said resident Jack Summers. “Our Belmont Village Community rallied around them, with not just funds, but love and support.”
Hollerback calls her “Knit and Sip” group, a collection of knitters and crocheters, her “instigators” as they sit and chat and knit and think of ways to make more money—she helps facilitate whatever they want to happen. The group spent hours making items to sell at the craft fair and the Cardiff Farmers Market held next door.
Of Belmont Village’s 146 residents, between independent living, assisted living and memory care, everybody gets involved in whatever way they can. The memory care unit made beads and candles to sell at the craft fair.
Belmont Village also had a jewelry sale, bake sale and a Fall Reclaimed Market last month, where residents donated gently used items for an estate/garage sale that brought in $1,000 for JIT.
Resident Len Smith even pitched in $1,000 on his own.
“In my life, when I had an opportunity to help out someone, I didn’t for some reason or another. I’m not perfect,” Smith said. “I wanted to make up for that now. I want to help these youth strive and be the best they can be.”