Staff and volunteers from DOROT Westchester, alongside some students from Byram Hill High School, delivered Thanksgiving meal packages to older adults today at their third annual Intergenerational Thanksgiving Meal Delivery event.

According to Lorraine Novack, the organization's regional director, the packages were filled with traditional Thanksgiving and holiday items.

"Turkey, and potatoes, and gravy, and vegetables, there's a challah roll, there's a beautiful turkey-shaped cookie," Novack said.

However, the act of service didn't end once the volunteer dropped the meal off. After the delivery, many volunteers also spent about an hour at each recipient's home to get to know them better and foster more intergenerational friendships.

"Sort of the hallmark of DOROT is bringing the generations together," Novack said. "It's actually what our name stands for. DOROT is "generations" in Hebrew and so we have volunteers all the way from five years old to 100."

Patricia Phelan was one of over 70 people who volunteered at the event today.

"The holiday times and especially since COVID, all the social isolation…It’s affecting people's mental health, especially senior citizens," Phelan said.

Phelan said she could relate to the cause because her dad has Parkinson's disease.

"He's basically homebound now, too. So, the socialization is so important," Phelan said.

To get to her delivery, Phelan drove to Yonkers to meet an older adult named Bettsie. Despite just meeting, Bettsie said she learned that she has a lot in common with her newest friend. She said she and Phelan both have a mutual love of teaching.