During the COVID-19 pandemic, my grandparents moved in to live with my family. With the excessive amounts of time we spent cooped inside the house, I formed a one-of-a-kind relationship with my grandparents. Every night, we would play card games like canasta and gin rummy while they recounted stories of my dad and family members when they were young. I always looked forward to our nightly tradition.
   

10 months later, my grandparents headed back to Florida. As we said our goodbyes, I was beyond upset that our card games wouldn’t take place anymore and that they were leaving me. I never realized how much I took having grandparents for granted. This made me realize how many of my peers were never able to experience meeting their grandparents and how people at assisted livings rarely got to see their grandchildren. 
   

From that point forward, I started getting in contact with local assisted livings, asking if I could run virtual events for the elderly people who lived there. Once places agreed, I rounded up a group of students from my high school where we taught the elderly how to use and send emails. It was at this point that my community service activity grew to be a community in itself. Month after month, my peers and I continued to run events for the Atria on Roslyn Harbor where we formed bonds with our consistent attendees.
   

3 years later and we have grown to have 8 branches nationwide. I couldn’t be more appreciative of all of the opportunities that I have been given and all of the people I have been able to meet. It’s been an absolute honor being able to “connect generations and spread smiles.”