WMA students school seniors on tech

Feb. 27, 2019 | Sarah Heinonen
sarah@thereminder.com

Carol and Chip Keeney get assistance with their iPads from WMA students, Christine Mo and Cherry Wang.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen

HAMPDEN/WILBRAHAM – The Hampden Senior Center is collaborating with the Wilbraham-Monson Academy to offer seniors help with their laptops, phones, and tablets.

“The feedback from the participants has been awesome,” said Wendy Turer, outreach coordinator at the Hampden Senior Center. “The seniors have been really excited. The kids really seem to enjoy it, too.”

When asked what Susan Bellows, 72, liked about the program she joked, “it's free."

“[The students] seem to be able to work with different levels of strengths,” Bellows said and added that she liked the convenience of having the students come to the senior center.

The program is a part of WMA’s Service Team, one of the school’s extracurricular activities. Each semester, students apply to join the Service Team and go out into the community five days each week and for five Saturdays, to help out at various locations. This semester, in addition to the Hampden Senior Center, the students visit Thomas M. Balliet Elementary School in Springfield, Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen in Chicopee, and The Wellington at Springfield, an assisted living facility

“There are fewer opportunities for community service for young people; one of the bright spots is senior work,” said John Lombard, the Service Team director. He said the program benefits both the students and the seniors.

"There are serious technology challenges with this generation, but we have teens helping with something that would cost $40 or $50. For those on a fixed income, they just couldn't afford it,” said Lombard.

The students also get to talk with an age group that they otherwise may not. “It's a chance for seniors to tell their story to kids,” said Lombard.

Liz Squindo, Dean of Students at WMA, said of the Service team members, “they definitely enjoy the variety of placements. They like helping people. It's something they’re good at that they can showcase and teach.”

Vincent Sweeney, 16, sat working with Valerie Porowski, who gave her age as, “65 and holding.” Porowski needed help with internet connectivity on her phone and laptop.

"Before I heard about this I was going to call the senior center and ask if there was someone here who could help, so this worked out well,” said Porowski.

This is Sweeney's first time as part of the Service Team. He said he enjoys it because they go to a different place each day and they help a lot of people. He enjoys the Service Team so much that he plans to continue volunteering over the summer.

The idea to partner with WMA came to Turer from Wilbraham Social Services Coordinator, Barbara Harrington, who suggested the program. Turer then reached out to WMA.

So far, the students have been to the senior center each Thursday for three weeks. After the school’s spring break, a six-week session is planned for the next trimester. There will be groups meeting from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on March 21, 28, and all four Thursdays in April.

Carol Keeney and her husband Chip Keeney, both 70, heard about the program through The Scribe, the Hampden Senior Center’s newsletter. The couple needed help with their iPads.

“Our children showed us the basics but they’re not around and we need a younger mind," Keeney said.

Christine Mo and Cherry Wang, both 16, worked with the Keeneys. Wang has been an international boarding student at WMA for three years and said that because she lives on campus, the Service Team gives her the chance to experience the surrounding areas.

“I get to know about the community more,” Wang said. “It allows me to help people.”

Keeney announced, “problem solved,” after about 15 minutes with the two students. “Now, can I do Netflix here?”

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