More than 350 Colorado students spent the past year serving older adults through A Little Help, a Colorado nonprofit, building connections that reached beyond the classroom. The organization partners with schools through Ditch the Desk, its group service program, to give students opportunities to serve and build relationships with older adults. The organization is actively seeking new school partners in Northern Colorado. These partnerships can leave a lasting impact on students.
“Connecting with older adults gave our students the opportunity to practice empathy, communication, and service in an authentic setting,” McGraw Elementary teacher Tiffany Babcock said. “My fifth graders walked away with a greater appreciation for the value of human connection and the importance of giving back to their community.”
McGraw Elementary participated in social connection projects that brought fifth-grade students together with older adults. A Little Help hopes to expand these opportunities across Northern Colorado through ongoing social connection programs and one-time service days. These service days can include yardwork days that connect students with older adults who need help cleaning up their yards, and Kindness Kit events where students make and deliver care packages to older neighbors.
One such initiative is a partnership with Berthoud High School’s athletic programs. “It helped them see that there are people in this community who might need a helping hand,” Brandon Bird, Berthoud High School’s assistant principal and athletic director, said. “It also showed them a new way to pour into the community outside of their typical social circles.”
That sense of community is central to A Little Help’s work with schools. These collaborations can support older adults while giving students practical experience in service, communication and relationship-building.
“These partnerships give students a chance to build empathy, confidence and a stronger sense of connection to their community while helping older adults feel supported and valued,” said Colleen Meyer, A Little Help’s Northern Colorado director. “We are looking for more Northern Colorado schools that want to give their students meaningful opportunities to serve and build relationships across generations.”
A Little Help is a Colorado-based nonprofit that began 20 years ago as a grassroots movement in Denver’s Washington Park neighborhood to care for older neighbors. Over the past two decades, it has grown to engage 3,000 older adults across Metro Denver and Northern Colorado through a dedicated team of volunteers. Its “set your own schedule” volunteering program supports older adults with services such as yard work, transportation, tech help, and social visits.
To learn more about partnering with A Little Help through Ditch the Desk, email [email protected].
