It has a unique global vision to share and give back to the less privileged seniors by identifying those who are most vulnerable and underserved, first within the Greater-Chicago community and then reaching out overseas. Share-a-smile Chicago works in conjunction with BACOA (Barrington Area Council for Old Age) to deliver a hot and nutritious meal to home-bound seniors allowing them to live indepe
ndently in their own homes, with dignity and self-respect. Share-a-Smile Chicago members also volunteer at “Autumn Leaves” an assisted-care community that has been designed to care for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. A monthly luncheon is hosted by one of the 13 committee members for a group of seniors so that they can meet up socially. During these luncheons we have a guest speaker, musician or play a game of bingo. These get-togethers are stimulating and help our seniors foster connections with their peers and have some fun. In November 2015, SASC organized a langar at Palatine gurdwara during which we conducted a coats drive. Coats collected were distributed amongst the homeless and some were given to a transition house for women who are victims of domestic abuse. In Dec 2015 we collected emergency supplies and sent a container in response to the floods in Chennai, India. In March 2016 we started a new chapter by launching a senior luncheon program in Naperville to provide a venue for seniors living in the South-west suburbs to get together once a month. Once a year, Share-a-smile Chicago organizes a fund-raiser to benefit a senior citizen project. In recent years, we have adopted a senior home called Sukhdam, located in Wazirabad, on the outskirts of Delhi, India. Here, in a rented facility, 25 seniors who have been abandoned by their families are housed, fed, clothed and their medical bills are taken care of. For a donation of $650 you can take care of a senior’s basic needs for an entire year at Sukhdam with our Support-a-Senior Program. This donation will be 100% tax deductible as the entire amount will be sent to benefit the senior. We value the vision that no activity or amount is too small, by providing the community a platform to bring their resources together to make a difference because we believe we owe it to our seniors.
