NEWS from the Shelby County Mayor’s Office
Lee Harris, Mayor
Vasco A. Smith, Jr., Administration Building
11th Floor, 160 North Main, Memphis, Tennessee 38103
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 29, 2020
Courtney Tipper
Interim Public Information Officer
Office: 901.222.2322
Mobile: 901.481.3422
MAYOR LEE HARRIS, SHELBY COUNTY OFFICE OF OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT, AND THE MEMPHIS CHAPTER OF JACK AND JILL TO KICKOFF SENIOR CITIZEN OUTREACH PROGRAM
Memphis, TN – Mayor Lee Harris, the Shelby County Office of Outreach and Engagement, and the Memphis Chapter of Jack and Jill have collaborated to host “Seniors Serving Seniors,” a community service initiative that brings together high school seniors and senior citizens to model safe socializing in light of COVID-19. On Monday, June 1, 2020, Mayor Harris will join local Jack and Jill Teen President Kalen Ingram to deliver a curated care package to a local senior in South Memphis. Later in the week, over 50 high school seniors will deliver dozens of care packages to senior citizens in Shelby County. Drop-offs will be followed by check-in phone calls and handwritten letters from the high school seniors.
WHAT: “Seniors Serving Seniors” Senior Citizen Outreach Program Kick-Off
WHEN: Monday, June 1, 2020, at 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: 1802 Meadowhill Cove, Memphis, TN 38106
“This is an exciting partnership to allow young citizens to support our most senior citizens, but we want to do it safely,” said Kim Cox, Administrator of the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement. “We worked with the Shelby County Health Department to ensure that all program participants are safe and following social distancing guidelines.”
“I’ve long said that you can’t call your parents and grandparents enough as they shelter at home during the current pandemic,” said Mayor Lee Harris. “Still, there are some residents who may not receive a phone call or a visit. It may no longer be advisable for them to go to the senior centers or other places they receive social interaction. We want our seniors to stay safe. We also want them to know that they are not forgotten. That’s why we created this program.”
“It is really important for high school seniors to participate in community services activities, but it’s been difficult to find safe and fun things that we can do during COVID-19,” said Kalen Ingram, Teen President of Jack and Jill of the Mid-South. “No one wants to think about their grandparents staying in the house without anything to do or anyone to talk to, so I’m happy that my friends and I get to spend time learning from senior citizens in our community. It’s an honor to provide them with this care package in light of everything they’ve sacrificed for us.”
The care packages include a variety of gifts for physical and mental stimulation, as well as personal protective equipment like gloves and masks. Stax legend David Porter also signed a CD for each care package. The student couriers will receive special training on safe social distancing and must have their temperatures checked before traveling to their assigned home.
Press are encouraged to attend and will receive a sample care package for review. This event will comply with the local health department’s social distancing guidelines.
(end of release)
