For the month of August 2017, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Newark will “Share the Plate” with Lori’s Hands. Each month UUFN donates half of its total offerings to a different organization. Organizations must apply to be considered. The main criteria to apply is that the organization must be local and that the donations given will make a difference for the organization.

Lori’s Hands, Inc. is a Newark-based nonprofit organization that connects college student volunteers with individuals living with chronic illnesses such as cancer, ALS, MS or COPD. Students assist Newark residents with in-home activities made difficult by disease or treatment, such as grocery shopping and housework. In turn, these Newark community members provide students (many of whom are studying health-related fields such as nursing, medicine, and health policy) with their personal perspectives on the experience of living with chronic illness. Lori’s Hands aims to provide meaningful, practical support to local residents while educating the next generation healthcare workforce about the day-to-day experience of living at home in the community with health challenges. Lori’s Hands is raising funds to expand services within Newark and throughout the local area.

Lori’s Hands is named after Lori LaFave. Lori made lives better in small, consistent ways. It is with that same humble and giving spirit that Lori’s Hands volunteers serve their communities. Lori, who lived in Voorheesville, NY, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995 and died in 2003. Lori’s daughter, Sarah, founded Lori’s Hands in her memory during Sarah’s sophomore year at the University of Delaware.

Sarah and Sarah’s friends at UD aimed to create a meaningful volunteer experience for college students and to improve the quality of life for people living with chronic illness. The mission has since evolved to accomplish both of those things in the context of service learning, in hopes of also transforming students’ understanding of chronic illness and community health.