DOROT Volunteer Courtney Dennis Uplifts Local Elders Through the Power of Connection
Dennis shared what she's learned through volunteering and the importance of intergenerational connections.
In this digital age, it often seems like the art of human connection has been lost in the scroll, but Uptown resident Courtney Dennis is on a mission to shift the narrative through her volunteer journey. For the North Carolina native, who moved to New York City six years ago, her quest to find a sense of community in the Big Apple is what ultimately led her to rediscover her passion for serving and supporting senior citizens.
Throughout her childhood, Dennis' Girl Scout Troop would visit local nursing homes to spend time with aging residents. Now Dennis, who volunteers with DOROT—a nonprofit named after the Hebrew word “generations" that is dedicated to addressing social isolation among elders—is continuing that legacy of building intergenerational connections.
For National Volunteer Month, Columbia Neighbors spoke with Dennis about her volunteer work Uptown and how DOROT, a Columbia Community Service grantee, is stopping the stigma around loneliness.
When did you first witness or experience the power of volunteering?
I had an upbringing that emphasized helping out elders and respecting them. When I was younger, I was a Girl Scout, and my troop was very big on volunteering. It was the first time I truly realized how paying it forward, serving others, and dedicating your time can make a difference. Our troop would spend time visiting nursing homes. When we would visit, the faces of the residents would light up. Our positive energy and smiles were enough to brighten people’s day. Now that I’m supporting local elders through volunteering with DOROT, it’s full circle.
How did you hear about DOROT? What inspired you to get involved?
I moved from North Carolina to New York City in 2018 and I was in search of a sense of community. I was able to connect with people through work and had a few friends within my age group, but something was missing. I wanted to interact with people from all walks of life. I came across DOROT on Google when searching for volunteer opportunities working with senior citizens in the city. I started volunteering with the organization in 2019.
DOROT is geared towards senior citizens, but the feeling of isolation isn’t unique to a certain demographic or a type of person. We’ve all felt isolated at one point in our lives, whether it was through the pandemic, moving to a new city, or losing loved ones. I wanted to get involved with DOROT because we need to lean on each other, and if you can take your time to help alleviate loneliness for someone else, it’s impactful.
What are some of the most memorable volunteer projects you’ve worked on with the organization?
From Package Delivery to Legacy Projects, DOROT offers a variety of services for the elderly. The most impactful initiative I’ve participated in is their Friendly Visiting program. When I started my volunteer journey with the organization, I was part of their Response Team, where we helped older adults with short-term tasks and delivered care packages during the holidays.
Their Friendly Visiting program involves cultivating a long-term friendship with an elder. You connect with the person every week or a few times a month. Developing these personal connections takes the baseline level of gratitude and satisfaction that comes from volunteering to another level. They truly become a presence in your life. Oftentimes, when you help someone else, they in turn end up helping you too.
Developing these personal connections takes the baseline level of gratitude and satisfaction that comes from volunteering to another level. They truly become a presence in your life.
Through the program, I was able to build a friendship with Ira, who I’ve been visiting for a couple of years now. He’s turning 96 this year and has lived in Morningside Heights for 60 years. Ira is a Holocaust survivor, and I marvel at how he’s embracing life despite all that he’s been through.
He still takes walks around the neighborhood, and every errand he has to do is done in person, the old-fashioned way rather than digitally. It’s the way he chooses to live his life and stay connected to the community. He’ll walk to the stationary shop to buy envelopes and pick up stamps from the post office so he can mail his bills. People on the street recognize him not just because he’s been in the neighborhood so long, but because he goes out every day.
In an age where many of us are glued to our phones, it’s a constant reminder that we shouldn’t take social interaction for granted. I don’t have living grandparents, and he’s someone I introduce to my family when they’re in the city. My mother talks to him on the phone often. Ira is very special. Despite some of the vision, hearing, and memory issues he experiences, he still tries his best to be high-energy and stay positive. It’s special to have a connection with someone from DOROT that can be the catalyst for other connections.
What are your thoughts on the importance of addressing social isolation, specifically in communities like Upper Manhattan, and how is DOROT filling the gap?
DOROT’s existence is taking away the stigma around social isolation. From my perspective, younger generations are used to going on social media to connect, but not everyone operates that way. DOROT acknowledges social isolation is an issue, which opens the door for people to ask for help. It’s bringing attention to the fact that it’s a real problem that people face.
If I could describe DOROT’s volunteer community in one word, it would be resilient. As individuals and as New Yorkers as a whole, we face moments of adversity, but it’s resilience that makes people get out of bed in the morning, move forward, and give back through volunteering. The work is rewarding and worthwhile. At DOROT, we just keep going.
How would you personally define a volunteer beyond the standard meaning?
Optimism is key. The act of volunteering is believing the world can be better and it’s going to be better. You’re acknowledging the possibilities. You have faith that something better can happen, and you and the people around you are capable of making it happen. You learn how little actions come together to make big differences. You’re not going to accept the current status quo. It’s also important to understand that you don’t need any particular skills to volunteer. Much like the seniors who come to DOROT for help, everyone is helping people out while being their authentic selves. Everyone is welcome. I hope to continue volunteering with DOROT for a long time.
The act of volunteering is believing the world can be better and it’s going to be better. You’re acknowledging the possibilities.
Where do you pull your inspiration from?
I’m inspired by the elderly community. When you’re walking down the street and you’re seeing seniors go about their day, if you stop and have the opportunity to talk to them sometimes, you’ll learn about what they have lived through. They have so much wisdom to share. It’s inspiring to see how they’ve learned from all of their past experiences, what stands out to them, and what they believe is worth sharing with you.