Stories Behind the Movement
Volunteers from chapters across the country express how the seniors in their lives inspired them to carry out the GlamourGals mission.
“The summer before 9th grade, my grandmother suffered a debilitating stroke. She spent most of her time living at rehabilitation centers, often ones with limited visiting hours and unstimulating atmospheres. My grandmother, like many other senior citizens, experienced a sense of loneliness that was exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. I made it my mission to ensure that nursing home residents would not experience the same feelings of isolation that my grandmother had felt. By volunteering, I hope to advocate for the seniors in my community, who experience regular loneliness. I see my grandmother in each of the residents, and I know that being there for them makes an enormous difference in their lives.”
“The main inspiration for my involvement in GlamourGals is my old neighbor Gisela. Gisela was 96 years old and lived by herself, and her only form of company was a young me going to visit her weekly. Even at a young age, I was able to see how happy I made her, when I took even a tiny amount of time out of my day to come to see her. Even until I was around 12 years old, the best part of my week would be seeing her smile light up, when she answered the door for me. I think that senior isolation is a very sad thing that should be ended, and I believe that my involvement in GlamourGals can help to end it, one person at a time.”
“...I have lived with my maternal grandparents for almost ten years now; since I moved to the United States. They’ve helped us in every way possible, always providing us with a roof over our heads and unconditional support through tough situations…[During tough times, when] I felt the most alone I have ever felt in my life, their kindness and love towards me showed me just how important grandparents are in a child’s life…One of my biggest wishes is to give back to them, and by being involved in the GlamourGals community, I feel as though I am giving back to [my grandparents] through other seniors. I want to provide the same support and love not only to my family, but to those who need it the most.”
