The Laura

Laura was born in Colombia and adopted at a young age. She later reconnected with her biological family and moved to America to be with them. Laura eventually married, had two sons, and worked in social services at a hospital. Her husband passed away after 53 years of marriage. At the time, Laura didn’t know how to cope with the loss and started volunteering at her local JASA senior center. She says that it was her volunteer work that truly helped her heal.

Due to the pandemic, senior centers were forced to shut down their in-person programs. JASA staff had to come up with creative ways to engage their clients. They approached Laura and asked if she would like to participate in the JASAChat program, which involved a weekly phone call with a volunteer. Laura, who is 94 years old, expressed her interest in being a Spanish speaker as she was starting to forget her native language. JASA then introduced her to Viviana, a Mexican native who had moved to New York 25 years ago. Over time, Laura and Viviana have developed a strong bond, and they often talk about their families. Laura describes Viviana as warm, friendly, and open, and she feels like Viviana has become a part of her family.

“I’ve been speaking to Viviana for over a year now. She makes me laugh and it is very easy to talk to her. She’s got a very warm personality. We’re very friendly and open and we talk a lot.”

This necklace is handmade with love and care by JASA seniors. Treat yourself today and support older New Yorkers!