A few weeks ago we enjoyed lunch with Irene Zola, founder of LiLY-Lifeforce in Later Years, one of our favorite programs that brings neighborhood volunteers into the lives of lonely, at-risk elders struggling to stay in their own homes.

Irene shared her frustration at not being able to locate a donated laptop for Sylvia*, an 85 year old who lives alone in the big city. She knew that Sylvia’s quality of life would vastly improve if she had a small laptop to use to reach out to her very small circle of family in a far off place, or even just to “surf the web” and see the world. We thought that this was something the Good People Fund could make happen with a small tzedakah investment so instructed Irene to find a suitable laptop for Sylvia to use.

Irene just wrote us…enjoy…

Sylvia, an 85 year old who lives alone…, opened her door on July 4th, a hot and heavy summer day in NYC, in an apartment without air conditioning, to what to her was the greatest joy! Although she must live on a song, financially speaking, she now would have the means to communicate more regularly with her family living so far away, to receive email notes and, importantly for her, pictures and the possibility of skyping. (A neighbor said that she could bring her computer over to skype anytime.)…In addition, she was delighted that she could now take out dvd movies from the library to watch on her screen. Finally, she is a poet (of sorts). She is thrilled to have the means to pursue her creative writing! She has many uses planned for her computer, not the least of which I am imagining, the feeling that she is a 25 year old, parking herself in Starbuck’s and opening up her computer!!!