Meredith Mallad and with some of her favorite friends. Photo courtesy Presbyterian Village North.
Meredith Mallad, a junior at Ursuline, started volunteering at Presbyterian Village North last year.
“I enjoy it because I feel like the residents have a lot to offer me because I get a different perspective on life in general,” Mallad says. “They have a lot of stories to tell or things they want to talk about that I wouldn’t necessarily even think about to begin with. It just is kind of like a shift in my day, and it’s so fun to hear what they have to say and the stories they tell.”
Mallad continued working at the senior living center after her volunteer time ended. She says she loves her residents too much to leave, and they might love her even more.
“She’s excellent at what she does,” says Susan deLarios, a resident at Presbyterian Village North. “It’s good for us, and it’s good for them (the young servers). You get to know them and let them know how important they are.”
Mallad is able to keep a flexible schedule serving at the senior living facility while in school. On top of her job and her classwork, she is on the Ursuline lacrosse team and Global Advisory Council, and she’s an Ursuline ambassador.
“People wouldn’t expect a high schooler to like hanging out with and serving the residents because they’re so much older than us, and most people would probably think it’s a little boring,” Mallad says. “But they have a lot to say and they’re so lively and always wanting to tell stories.”
Presbyterian Village North works with high schoolers in a volunteer and employment setting to attempt to bridge the gap between seniors and young people throughout the year.
“You always want to give good service, but it’s a different type of service. It’s more about making a connection with the person,” says Keo Velasquez, director of corporate operations at Forefront Living, the parent company of Presbyterian Village North. “They’re going to ask you questions about your background and what you do and what you enjoy. It becomes a very personal relationship.”
Presbyterian Village North is always looking for more high schoolers to have the opportunity to work part-time with the residents, and those interested can apply online.
“We really enjoy being able to connect with her and her fellow classmates,” Velasquez says. “You can see with Meredith how much she enjoys it and how much she’s gotten out of it. She’s been a great addition as far as interacting with them and encouraging her fellow classmates. She’s very bright, and it exposes her to a whole different industry.”
CORRECTION: The story has been corrected from its original version to correct Meredith Mallad’s name from Mallard to Mallad.
