Rebuilding a Community
Rebecca N., Commack High School Chapter President, reflects on growing the Commack Chapter of GlamourGals and the palpable importance of building connections with seniors after the COVID-19 pandemic.
I have always believed that a person's actions speak louder than words, and I have taken this to heart when it comes to being a part of the GlamourGals organization. Once I connected with the GG mission, I wanted to do everything I could to ensure everyone at school and in my community knew about GlamourGals. My efforts ranged from social media posts of GG events to hanging up posters around the school and explaining to my friends and peers what GlamourGals encompasses. As I came into my leadership position as President, I expanded the GlamourGals’ network in my community. With the help of my other officers, I planned a fundraising event at Homecoming to share the GlamourGals’ mission and fundraise for our chapter. I have continuously sent crafts and cards made by our chapter’s members to the senior homes in our area and have expanded the Commack chapter senior homes list.
When Rachel Doyle first established GlamourGals in Commack, it was new to our community. However, Rachel Doyle persisted with GlamourGals until it became an influential club, which is seen as a symbol of uniting two generations. I didn't recognize GG’s impact on our community until after quarantine had hit GlamourGals in Commack, taking an unscheduled pause that seemed almost unending. However, GlamourGals was still on my mind because of its influence on my freshman year of high school when I first joined. My junior year, I successfully worked with other GG officers to relaunch our chapter. As we started going to makeovers and sending cards out to senior homes all over our community, I had a chance to see how genuinely influential GG is in our district towards ending senior isolation. The thank you notes from nursing homes, smiles on members’ and seniors’ faces, and laughter as they bonded while painting seniors’ nails, show the importance of the GlamourGals organization in my community.
