Lori’s Hands builds mutually beneficial partnerships between community members with chronic illness and college students, fostering empathy, connection, and resilience. Students provide practical assistance to support community members’ independence at home, and community members share their health and life experiences to support students’ learning. Lori’s Hands envisions a more equitable world in which every person can age with dignity and interconnection in their community and in which every person’s strengths are appreciated and shared.
We receive client referrals from home healthcare agencies, providers’ officers, and community organizations. A good fit for Lori’s Hands is someone who is living at home, has a diagnosed chronic illness, could benefit from help with non-medical household activities, and is willing to teach and engage with our students. We are currently accepting client referrals in Newark, DE, Baltimore, MD, and Metro Detroit, MI.
We recruit, train, and foster opportunities for college students to participate in Lori’s Hands through service learning courses, community clinical rotations, internships, pre-med and pre-Physician’s Assistant contact hours, and through our student club. We track student activities using a smartphone app. We are currently recruiting students in Newark, DE, Baltimore, MD, and Metro Detroit, MI. Lori’s Hands student volunteers visit their assigned clients each week. Students visit in pairs. Students help with housework, meal preparation, grocery shopping, and other household activities. Clients help students understand the experience of living with a chronic illness, navigating the healthcare system, or aging in place. Interested in volunteering? Visit our website to apply!