OUR MISSION
Established in March of 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gens Connect strives to bring together the community during these difficult times by connecting high school and college students with seniors through phone calls and video calls. Our mission is to bridge the gap between generations, reduce feelings of loneliness, boredom, and depression in seniors, and form mutually beneficial and rewarding relationships between our volunteers and the seniors at the centers we partner with.
We are constantly working on expanding our services beyond phone calls to provide additional sources of support and entertainment for our seniors. Even after COVID-19 is over, Gens Connect will continue to form meaningful relationships between our volunteers and seniors and go beyond remote forms of communication so that volunteers can speak with seniors face to face. We hope you join us in our mission to make a positive impact on the community and foster valuable connections between generations!
Christine Xu
Founder of Gens Connect
Why We Started
When the COVID-19 outbreak first began, there was a lot of fear circulating in my family. My grandparents all live in China, and as the elderly, they are one of the most at-risk groups. My family would call them every day to check-in so that we knew they were safe, and they wouldn't feel so isolated. I realized there were so many seniors who may not have anyone to talk to, who may not feel safe, who may be completely isolated. With limited ways to physically help those in need, I came up with Gens Connect, a remote way to volunteer and connect with people.
Christine Xu