One-to-One Friends: Dorina & Gerri
Many senior residents who are matched with a LITA friend express their gratitude with words or a smile, but this year a resident expressed her appreciation by literally creating a fundraiser for LITA.
At 94, Dorina remains a creative and energetic woman who could leave some of us that are decades younger in the dust! She moved across the country to be near her family, and left behind all familiar friends and activities. Although Dorina has a loving family, an outside friend from LITA provided the extra support she needed during her transition to her new home.
LITA volunteer, Gerri, had recently retired and felt it was the perfect time to add a new friend to her new found free time. Gerri was introduced to Dorina in September of 2008, and Gerri says, “It was love at first sight! Our visits are filled with good conversation, laughter, playing cards, looking at Dorina’s latest crochet creations, and trips to Michael’s for yarn, or shopping at our favorite places.”
The feeling is mutual, Dorina states, “I am 94 years old and needless to say I have known many people. Gerri is high on my list of favorites! She is kind, intelligent, and humorous and when I am with her I feel so happy. Gerri visits every Monday. I just wish there were more Mondays in the week! I wanted to thank LITA for putting us together because we are a perfect match.”
In that spirit, Dorina organized a fashion show at Drake Terrace Retirement Community. The resident models displayed several hundred hand-crocheted fashions all made by Dorina. There were colorful hat and scarf sets, dusters and vests, beautiful baby layettes and blankets, each a work of art. Dorina’s countless hours of crocheting, as well as the hours of collaboration with the Drake Terrace volunteers and staff to organize the event was astounding. It resulted in one of the most significant donations by an individual to LITA in 2010. Dorina also donated some of her scarves and hats to LITA’s Holiday Gifts for the Elderly program for seniors in need and in the spring you will have the opportunity to bid on some Dorina Couture at LITA’s "LITA a la Heart" silent auction as well.
Gerri commented, “Occasionally Dorina will call and say ‘It’s me; the pest!’, but she is far from it!” She is a person with much to give as a friend, artist and member of the community.