Neighborhood Self Help by Older Persons Project, Inc. (SHOPP)
At the start of the pandemic, SHOPP’s sta ff of 100 pivoted from in-person programming to supporting older adults and caregivers through virtual communication. In a two-week span, we went from an organization delivering hundreds of on-site and o ff -
site services and activities to working remotely, maintaining contact with thousands of seniors either by phone or connecting virtually. We quickly determined the need to engage seniors in virtual activities, wellness services, education, and other forms of support. Our goal was to promote social connectedness, build awareness, provide social service support and o ff er cognitive stimulation as many were beginning to express loneliness, sadness, depression and a sense of emptiness due to their inability to attend programming, visit family and friends and engage in normal daily activities due to stay at home orders. This is extremely concerning for seniors who may now be at home with their abuser during this isolation period, unable to receive respite or support in dealing with their abuser and preventing further abuse. With the support from the Ponce De Leon Foundation, SHOPP’s Safe Elders Project allowed us to successfully outreach, connect, and educate seniors and professionals on the issues of elder abuse and financial exploitation, as well as focus on safety, wellness, education, and community empowerment. Due to the pandemic, we restructured the project and focused on establishing vital relationships and partnerships that will allow us to deliver quality training and build community awareness through SHOPP’sElder Abuse, FinancialExploitation, and Prevention Training Series.
New Heights, NYC
The Ponce De Leon Foundation’s $25,000 grant, awarded in December 2022, has played a tremendous role in our successes. Your support for our sports-based college and career readiness programming resulted in life-changing opportunities for boys and girls who come from households that struggle economically. College Bound is our signature program that uses basketball to engage underserved youth in a network of educational and mentoring services that help them make it to and through high school and college. The College Bound Program.
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