Monthly Village News for August, 2025!

From Frank...I’ll share a secret with you. One of my guilty pleasures at this point in my life (now aged 59) is that I no longer jump out of bed when the alarm goes off as I certainly did when I started in my professional life. In fact, I don’t even use the alarm these days. At some point after I wake up, I am fortunate to have my husband bring me a cup of coffee, after which I start reading emails, scanning the news, and here’s the guilty pleasure part – watching short videos, called reels, on Facebook. The algorithm, in fact, feeds this habit because I get more and more of the ones that fit my taste!

I divulge this to share one such video, from Oprah no less, that really hit home. She recounts the best Christmas she ever had. The basic story is that she grew up poor and three nuns showed up unexpectedly and gave Oprah and her siblings gifts when they thought they wouldn’t receive anything. It’s a heartwarming story, but what really touched me was the effect that this experience made on Oprah’s later life. In the video, Oprah says that she “wanted to create that same feeling in others” that she felt as a recipient of the gift. The feeling when someone remembers you.

You may recall that I have a dear family friend, Pat, now in memory care, who bought me and my six sisters gift certificates to Kinney Shoes, when I was quite young and my mom was struggling as a single parent in the early 1970s. With this experience, Oprah’s story was more than poignant for me, it helped me understand the value of just one act of kindness and the resultant ripple effect even decades later. The recipient of kindness often becomes the giver and the ability to do so is a gift to both parties.

Just yesterday, I visited a member who is temporarily in a rehab facility recovering from a fall. We had a lovely chat, as is always the case with this individual.

I reminded the member that the Village could assist even in rehab. Perhaps a volunteer could get a large print book, provide some classical music, bring a home cooked meal, or just visit occasionally. Although the member said they didn’t need anything (and I certainly respect that wish), after seeing the video this morning, I wish I had said to the member (who I fear doesn’t want to put anyone out) that sometimes allowing others to help is, in fact, a gift to the volunteer.

I know that there’s a stigma for some to even join as members because they don’t want to seem frail. I often hear, “Oh, I’m independent so I’m not ready yet!” Actually, that’s precisely why we have two types of members: social members and Members Plus, the latter being the only ones that receive volunteer services. But I also hear from Members Plus frequently that they don’t want to put anyone out by asking for a volunteer to provide a service. This morning’s video from Oprah, was a reminder to me, that our volunteers sign up to help for various reasons, including wanting to give back. So, to our existing Members Plus, I urge you to remember this possibility and know that by asking for assistance of some kind, you might be giving the volunteer a gift.

Finally, I want to point out what Oprah said, that when she in turn gave gifts to children in Africa, she wanted them to know that “someone remembered you.” Another way of saying that, for me, is “everyone matters.” I’ve often said that the Village creates community. What I really hope is that together, as a community, we show each member that they matter. Whether that’s friendly banter after attending an event or between a volunteer and a member on a drive to a medical appointment, by virtue of being together, everyone matters.

Read all about Village events and programs are right here.

— Frank Finamore, Executive Director

P.S. The August calendar of events is always available online, but members can expect to receive their mailed calendars in their mailbox any day now!