Silver Cord Senior Volunteer Program

Your Time Can Make Someone's Day.

The Light The Way Silver Cord Program connects local high school students with seniors who could use companionship, conversation, or a helping hand.

It is designed for students in grades 10–12 who are looking for volunteer opportunities — including students working toward Silver Cord service hours — while giving them an opportunity to do something genuinely personal.

Grades 10–12
Volunteer Service
Senior Connection
Volunteering with a senior doesn't have to mean doing something complicated.

Sometimes the most meaningful thing a student can offer is time, attention, conversation, and a willingness to be present.

A simple interaction can create companionship for an older adult while giving a student the opportunity to learn from someone with decades of life experience.

Sometimes It Means...

Small moments can create real connection.

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Sometimes it means sitting down and talking.
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Sometimes it means playing cards.
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Sometimes it means playing an instrument for someone who loves music.
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Sometimes it means taking a walk together.
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And sometimes it means helping with something around the house that has become a little harder with age.
Volunteer Opportunities

What Could Students Do?

Depending on the senior, setting, and student's interests, volunteer activities could include:

Visiting and having conversations
Reading together
Playing cards, board games, or puzzles
Taking a senior outside for a walk
Playing a musical instrument or sharing another talent
Helping with phones, tablets, computers, or other technology
Helping organize photos or keepsakes
Putting away groceries
Running simple errands or helping with groceries
Light household tasks
Mowing a lawn or helping with basic outdoor chores
Participating in activities at a senior living community
Simply spending time with someone who could use some company
The Purpose

The goal isn't to turn students into caregivers.

The goal is connection, companionship, service, and learning from one another.

Why It Matters

One experience. Two generations benefit.

Why It Matters for Seniors

Connection can become harder to find with age.

Older adults can become increasingly isolated as they age. Family may live farther away, friends may no longer be nearby, transportation can become difficult, and opportunities for regular social interaction may decrease.

A high school student giving even an hour of their time can provide companionship, energy, conversation, and a connection to the community outside a senior's home or senior living community.

Why It Matters for Students

Students gain much more than volunteer hours.

Spending time with older adults can expose students to decades of life experience while developing communication skills, patience, empathy, leadership, and confidence.

It can also introduce young people to an area of growing need.

As America's population ages, our communities will need more people interested in senior care, medicine, nursing, social work, therapy, aging services, dementia care, and countless other professions that serve older adults.

A relationship formed through volunteering today could even influence the career someone chooses tomorrow.
Flexible by Design

Service that can fit into real student life.

Students have school, sports, jobs, activities, and family commitments. The Silver Cord Program is intended to be flexible.

Volunteer opportunities can vary based on student availability, interests, the needs of participating seniors, and opportunities available through local senior communities.

Light The Way helps connect students with appropriate opportunities and tracks participation where needed.

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Student availability
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Personal interests and talents
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Individual senior needs
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Local community opportunities
Johnston Iowa · Initial Program Area
Starting Locally

Build it responsibly. Then grow.

During our initial year, the Silver Cord Program will remain focused in the Johnston community.

Starting locally allows Light The Way to build strong relationships with schools, seniors, families, and participating organizations while developing the safeguards and processes needed to responsibly grow the program in the future.

contactus

(515) 808-5637

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