Friendships for Life New York

Every day, 429,000 elderly New Yorkers
live alone and are negatively affected by loneliness and isolation because of
mobility issues, chronic illness and limited or no family support.  

Because no one shall grow old alone, Friendships
for Life New York (FFLNY) and a community of caring volunteers offers a social
lifeline to older adults experiencing loneliness and isolation. 

With your support this holiday season, we can continue
brightening the lives of isolated older adults with in-person
visits and advocacy, phone companionship, birthday celebrations, social
outings, a homemade meal on Thanksgiving and our annual Not Alone at Christmas
Outreach.

Our friendly visiting programs are offered to isolated older
adults free of charge for the remainder of their lifetime. By building
life-long friendships among generations, FFLNY and the generosity of its
supporters provide a lasting solution to the prevalent issue of loneliness and
social isolation.

HISTORY 

Friendships
for Life New York (FFLNY), formerly known as Little Brothers - Friends
of the Elderly (LBFE) New York, has been serving homebound elderly New
Yorkers in a spirit of friendship since 2016. Our name and motto, "Friendships for Life,"
expresses our belief that in addition to basic life necessities,
everyone has a strong need for love, beauty, dignity and the social
interactions that make life worth living.  

MISSION  

Friendships
for Life New York's mission is to build strong, vibrant, life-long
friendships between older adults and caring volunteers.

PROGRAMS

For
the older adults we serve, decreasing mobility and increased isolation
often comes with declining health. FFLNY's programs and services
alleviate loneliness and isolation through in-person visits and
advocacy, phone companionship, birthday celebrations, social outings, a
homemade meal on Thanksgiving and our annual Not Alone at Christmas
outreach.

To be eligible, one must be 65 or older, live alone, and receive limited family support.

Thanks to the commitment of dedicated volunteers, we are now running 5 programs in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx.

Our Phone Companionship Program provides weekly phone calls to our elderly friends and a phone companion to talk to on a regular basis. 

Our Birthday Visiting Program honors
the legacy of our elders on their birthday and gives them an
opportunity to celebrate with volunteers and spend time among friends. 

Our Friendship and Flowers Visiting Program fosters
meaningful friendships and brings the joy of connection and flowers to
homebound older adults every month. Beautiful floral arrangements are
donated by longtime community partner  BloomAgainBklyn.

Our Friendly Visiting Program offers
ongoing social support and companionship to isolated older adults
living alone. Our friendly visitors provide in-person visits and phone
calls twice a month, and build inter-generational friendships that we
hope will last a lifetime.

Our Social Outings and Field Trips
gives our community of elders and volunteers opportunities to connect,
make new friends and have lunch together. This summer and autumn, our
outdoor trips took us to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Prospect Park Zoo, the MTA Museum and the Brooklyn Bridge Park.  

The morning of Thanksgiving, thanks to the support of the Ebenezer Women's League from Ebenezer Wesleyan Methodist Church, we
get to deliver home-cooked Thanksgiving meals to homebound older adults
in Brooklyn and Manhattan. We are grateful for this joyful tradition
and special group of women who cooks a delicious meal every year, and
for the opportunities our visiting volunteers have to share a
Thanksgiving meal with some of our elderly recipients.

THE DIFFERENCE YOUR GIVING MAKES

For
elderly New Yorkers who are affected by limited mobility and chronic
illnesses, the cure for loneliness is found in caring and lasting
friendships.  

Supportive
friendships and compassion have a transformative effect in the lives of
elderly New Yorkers we visit and call year-round. Knowing they are seen, heard, and loved, such social bonds add years onto their lives and life into their years. 

Your giving will provide the priceless gift of friendship to older adults living alone and ensures every older adult we serve is remembered and has a friend to talk to. 

Making
a gift today will not only brighten the lives of older adults we visit
and call year-round, it will also give volunteers opportunities to build
life-changing friendships with elderly New Yorkers who are a source of
inspiration, wisdom and joy.

To learn more, visit our Website at: www.friendshipsny.org