Health & Fitness

Holiday Volunteering: Spread Christmas Cheer To Those Without Visitors

It's not too late to volunteer with The Holiday Project to visit a hospital or nursing home in your area.

Written by Jane Lemmons

While many people gather with friends and family during the holidays, others will spend the time alone. The Holiday Project aims to make sure that doesn't happen, and the organization is seeking help to do it.

The Holiday Project — a national nonprofit group that organizes visits to people in nursing homes, hospitals and other institutional care settings — needs volunteers for visits scheduled in Maryland.

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"A lot of times patients will receive a lot of attention in the weeks leading up to a holiday, but then when the holiday itself rolls around, the place is deserted," explained Robin Wiley, president of The Holiday Project of the National Capital Area. 

"That's why so many of our visits are on Christmas Day. We want patients to know that someone remembers them and cares about them."

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According to The Holiday Project, millions of people each year spend the holidays confined to institutions and, as the population ages, that number will increase. 

Many have outlived relatives and friends, or those people have moved away, making life a lonely experience with few opportunities to interact with others.

At the same time, other people are looking for ways to make their holidays more fulfilling. 

The Holiday Project provides a way to connect those who need support with those who want to give back to their community.

The organization puts it this way: "Our goal is to make visits to people in institutions an integral part of America’s holiday experience and to bring the spirit of a holiday to people who otherwise would not have a celebration."

And it's not too late to volunteer. 

"You can sign up as late as Christmas Eve," Wiley said. "Children and even pets are permitted at some visit sites."

Volunteers are needed to organize visits, as well as to participate on visit teams. For more information, call (703) 370-0370 or visit The Holiday Project website at www.holidayproject.info.

Volunteers are still needed for these visits scheduled throughout the area:


Sun., Dec. 22, 3-5 p.m., Bethesda

Manor Care Bethesda

6530 Democracy Boulevard 20814

Visit Team Leader: Emilio Gomez

301-767-7192 or Emilio.Gomez@Marriott.com


Wed., Dec. 25, 10 a.m. - noon, Laurel

Cherry Lane Nursing Center

9001 Cherry Lane 20708

Visit Team Leader: Paula Volk

301-922-9545 or 202-663-7432 or pvolk@sughrue.com

Wed., Dec. 25, 10 a.m. - noon, Largo

Manor Care Largo

600 Largo Road 20774

Visit Team Leader: Patrice and Paulette Murray

littlemurray9@verizon.net


Wed., Dec. 25, noon - 2 p.m., Hyattsville

St. Thomas Moore Nursing Center

4922 LaSalle Road 20782

Visit Team Leader: Alma Nivet

301-518-4255 or alma_nivet_33@hotmail.com


Wed., Dec. 25, 1-3 p.m., Rockville

Rockville Nursing Home

303 Adclare Road 20850

Visit Team Leader: Chip Boylan

301-692-3068 or 301-217-9572 or 301-979-0090 or vincent.boylan@willis.com or chipboylan@verizon.net


Where are you volunteering this holiday season?


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