Talking, Walking, Learning:DOROT Can Help

Anne Whitehouse, special projects manager and writer for DOROT and a good friend of the Tinker Association, recently sent some updated information on DOROT’s programs.

Since 1976, DOROT has provided seniors with food, companionship and opportunities for education and cultural enrichment. The earliest DOROT programs were Friendly Visiting and Holiday Package Deliveries, and these remain at the core of DOROT’s programs today. Friendly Visiting matches volunteers with seniors for weekly home visits. A DOROT social worker matches each senior and volunteer based on mutual interests (and of course, location). Tinker members who have joined this program have made lasting friends (and in some cases gotten valuable help with their computers).

Holiday Package Deliveries take place on the Sundays before Rosh Hashanah, Chanukah and Passover, but Anne notes you don’t have to be Jewish to enjoy tasty traditional foods and holiday items.

And that’s not all. Among DOROT’s services today are Reading Assistance for the Visually Impaired, with social workers pairing seniors with volunteers who visit once a week to read, help with mail or paperwork, or just have a pleasant conversation. The Shop and Escort programs are similar: volunteers assist people going to and from medical appointments or shopping for groceries and other necessities.

DOROT’s exercise and relaxation classes get excellent ratings. There’s weight training, balance, light dance, meditation and yoga, all at DOROT’s headquarters.

In the University Without Walls, DOROT has created a unique community via telephone conference calls that enable seniors to join in lively, stimulating classes (and make new friends). The classes are led by professionals and volunteers who enjoy sharing their expertise. Topics include the arts, history and current events.

Anne is particularly excited about the terrific response for To Your Health, a sister program to the University, which enables seniors to learn more about their health concerns from health-care professionals. The program also connects seniors with peers who can provide the benefit of experience with similar conditions.

To participate in DOROT’s visiting programs, you must live between 59th St. and 125th St. On the West Side, or 14th St. and 96th St. On the East Side. For escort programs, the area is 50th to 125th on the West Side and 50th to 96th on the East.

For more information on DOROT, call 212-769-2850 on weekday mornings. Or visit the website.

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