Victoria Zimenko
Staff Writer
Cumberland Valley High School holds a club called the “Golden Years Club”. This club is a meaningful organization run by students at CV that focuses on supporting seniors living in nursing homes. The club’s main purpose is to provide companionship to the elderly by treating them as not just residents, but family. Through various gatherings such as playing games, talking, and sharing laughs, members of the Golden Years Club work together to help reduce loneliness and bring joy to seniors who may not see visitors often.
“The main goal of ‘Golden Years Club’ is to create a sort of ‘family’ where group members work together to end loneliness for the elderly.” Gianna Desappio, a representative of the club said.
One of the most impactful aspects of the Golden Years Club is how even the smallest interactions can make a big difference.
“Something I learned is that even when you only play just one game with them, they make it fun with their jokes all the time as it makes a big difference in their day when they see us walk in.” Lillian Le, another representative of the club said.
These moments show students how powerful kindness and presence can be.
Many students are drawn to the Golden Years Club for personal and emotional reasons.
“What got me interested in this club is that my grandparents passed so I wanted to give happiness to the elderly like I would have to my grandparents.” Lillian said.
For students who may not have grandparents of their own, the club provides an opportunity to build bonds with seniors while honoring the love and care they would have shared with their own family members.
Golden Years Club is also beneficial for students because it allows them to interact with people from different generations. By engaging with the elderly, students learn more about how life was like many years ago. These experiences help members grow as individuals while teaching them the importance of respect and understanding across different age groups.
“This club is beneficial because it allows the young students to engage with a variety of age groups, and help adjust to different environments.” Gianna said.
If Golden Years Club was described in one word, it would be "meaningful". The seniors frequently share how much they appreciate the CV kids and often express how excited they are for each visit. Hearing the elderly talk about how much they love seeing the students and how they always want them to come back shows just how impactful these visits are. These moments remind members that their time and effort truly matter and that the connections they form leave a lasting impression.
“If I could describe Golden Years in one word it would probably be meaningful as they always talk about how they love us CV kids and how they always want to see us again.” Lillian said.
Overall, Golden Years Club stands out because of the dedication and hospitality shown by its members. By working together, students create lasting relationships and help make a positive impact on the lives of seniors. Through compassion and commitment, Golden Years Club continues to prove that a little time, care, and kindness can go a long way in making someone feel valued and loved.