June 05, 2026

The volunteer program run by Renee Uriarte at the Center provides a way for people to contribute to daily operations by manning the Welcome Desk, serving up a cup at the Coffee Bar, or helping set up lunch every day. Some of our most dedicated volunteers are high school students looking to fulfill their school’s 40-hour volunteer commitment.

I’m always curious about those teenagers who stay longer than their volunteer hour requirements, like Sam. When he first started his volunteer assignment, he was incredibly shy and could barely look people in the eye. That changed over time, and my staff and I marveled at Sam’s growth and his increasing self-confidence. When asked recently about this, Sam said he found a sense of belonging at the Center. Even more, Sam expressed a sense of relief at escaping the hopelessness pervasive in his peer group, which some have dubbed the “doomer generation.”

I hear this “doom and gloom” mentality from many young people I encounter. “I’ll never be able to afford a house,” “climate change is getting worse and there’s no solution,” “wars and conflicts are never-ending,” “school shootings are happening all the time.” These are the types of comments that can get anyone down.

But, at the Center, Sam said he looks around and finds hope expressed by older adults, and hears that things CAN get better, and that people CAN survive and even thrive despite serious problems that are real and that don’t have an easy solution.

Getting to know people like Sam and our other teenage volunteers has made me realize that there is a parallel, a common thread, between the experience of today’s teenagers and that of the older adults our Center serves. Teenagers are grappling with contemplating the real and serious problems of our society, which can lead to depression and loneliness. Older adults are grappling with the challenges of ageism and isolation, which can also lead to depression and loneliness.

At both ends of the human age spectrum, the feelings of depression and isolation can cause serious harm.

Creating opportunities for social interaction is where we truly shine. By being a place where the older adults who show up here regularly practice “intentional aging”, it models vital living for younger people.

I wrote about this idea of “intentional aging” recently, and how we humans put so much effort into planning everything earlier in our life: where we go to college, who we marry, where we live. What we don’t spend time planning is how we intend to age.

Planning for aging means making a daily commitment to taking care of ourselves: staying physically active, eating and sleeping well, and getting enough social interactions to increase our sense of well-being and belonging.

All of us older adults can provide a haven for young people like Sam and remind him and all of us of an important lesson: making regular, real-life connections with other humans is the best antidote to loneliness and despair. Things can, and do, get better.