STATEN ISLAND, NY – A meal was served to senior citizens, members of the Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas parish of Staten Island, by the youth program, GOYA, on June 6, at the community’s Katsoris Center.
The youth welcomed the guests to the specially decorated space, met and talked with them, played games, and served them a complete meal.
“The goal of today’s event is to help young people develop empathy, social awareness and a willingness to give, to learn about the importance of volunteerism and volunteer awareness,” GOYA advisors Paraskevi Langis and Maria Baggs, told The National Herald.
A meal for seniors, members of Holy Trinity-St. Nicholas Parish in Staten Island, was provided by the youth program, GOYA, at the Katsoris Center. Photo: TNH/Michael Kakias
They added: “In addition to all the other activities during the year, we thought at our last meeting before the summer to bring the youth closer to the elderly so that they could get to know each other, learn from their knowledge and wisdom, and they in turn draw vitality and joy from the company of the youth. With great enthusiasm, the students took on the organization with various roles for each one: welcoming, serving food, coffee, sweets, cleaning. They gained beautiful and useful experiences and can’t wait to do it again. A big thank you to the parents for their help and support.”
Fr. Vasileios Apostolidis, noted in his remarks that “today’s meeting is not just a beautiful meal. It is a bridge that unites generations. The elders transmit to our children the faith, values, traditions and experiences of a lifetime. And the young, with their vitality, offer us hope and joy for the future of our Community.”
“Warm congratulations to JOY and Jr. GOYA for this beautiful initiative, as well as to all those who worked with love to organize today’s event,” he said. “I pray that the Lord will grant everyone health, strength and many more such blessed moments.”