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August 16, 2002
Southerners add warmth
USYers help Louis Brier residents feel more cared for.
KYLE BERGER REPORTER
Eighty-four Jewish teen-agers from the southern California area
brought some of their warmth to the Louis Brier Home and Hospital
July 31.
As participants of the United Synagogue Youth (USY) Far West on
Wheels summer program, the teenagers spent an entire afternoon at
the home helping out around the main office, cleaning residents'
wheelchairs and walkers and just being friendly.
"The kids were amazing," said Patricia Nitkin, the home's
co-ordinator of volunteer services and the leader of therapeutic
recreation. "We were taking lots of pictures and the kids would
just throw their arms around the residents and hug them. They really
did do a mitzvah."
Nitkin said programs such as this really help the residents at the
home feel like they are part of the community.
"It brings in life, energy and youth to the home," she
said. "The residents feel cared about and it gives them an
opportunity to share their wisdom and knowledge with the younger
generation."
Many of the USY participants said their visit to the Louis Brier
Home was the highlight of their four days in Vancouver.
"No matter what we're doing, this is where we all come together
to help out," said 16-year-old Benjamin Mitnick "We socialized
with [the residents] and I had a couple of the ladies ask me to
dance with them. It was very self-fulfilling."
Rachel Nahmias, also 16, said she was suprised how easily she interacted
with the residents.
"At first, when they wanted me to talk to them it was kind
of hard to open up." She said. "But we just started talking
and it got easier and easier.
"It was nice for them to have somebody to talk to and I enjoyed
listening," Nahmias continued. "I think I talked to one
lady for over an hour and I didn't even notice the time."
The USY group's regional director, Alyssa Ellis, said the staff
at the Louis Brier Home helped make the day successful for her group.
"The home was amazing because they really gave the kids lots
of options of things to do," she said. "And that really
allowed the kids to feel that they were giving on a level that they
were comfortable [with]."
Organized by USY's Far West Region, the Wheels tour also included
visits to Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Seattle and San Francisco.
However, according to Ellis, the stop in Vancouver was the main
attraction of the two-and-a-half-week tour.
"We advertised the trip as going to Vancouver," said Ellis.
"We stayed here the longest of all the places we've visited."
Nitkin emphasized that the home encourages youth organizations and
schools to visit the residents for similar programs.
"Part of our service is that we provide intergenerational programs,
which benefits the youth and our seniors," she said. "This
is consistent with part of our mandate."
The USY group made the connection with the Louis Brier Home with
the help of Shalom Vancouver.
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