On Saturday, July 6th, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the AYLUS Roslyn Branch volunteered at the Cerebral Palsy Association of Nassau County in Hicksville.
CP Nassau is an organization that has been assisting individuals with disabilities since 1948. They offer an abundance of quality programs to provide care for individuals with disabilities and help them become more independent. One of their programs is to provide residential life services to adults in a healthy, safe, and secure home living environment.
Today, four members of the Roslyn AYLUS branch visited a residential house in Hicksville to organize activities for the residents. We brought baking supplies, games, and plenty of arts and crafts materials, so everyone could find something they enjoyed.
We began with painting small tote bags and labeling them with the residents’ names. Each bag had a unique design, and we let the residents choose their favorite. We assisted with pouring paint onto pallets and helped those who needed it. Our next activity was letting the residents paint their favorite things on paper. Though some residents didn’t want to participate, we tried to encourage them. Our goal was to make everyone feel included and participate in the activities.
After finishing the arts and crafts, we moved on to baking egg tarts. Since we already had pastry shells, we only needed to make the custard filling. We cracked five eggs and added milk, water, sugar, and heavy cream into a bowl, allowing the residents to take turns mixing the ingredients. While the custard filling refrigerated for an hour, we played games together, including a ball-toss game. We accommodated the residents and changed the rules for playing this game.
Meanwhile, some residents preferred to continue working with arts and crafts, so we brought out an art kit for making animals out of paper plates, which they loved! After playing games for a while, the custard was finished setting, and we poured it into the pastry shells and put them in the oven. We also made fresh cream so the residents could use it to stick fruits onto the egg tarts. The egg tarts were a huge hit, and everyone loved them!
Working with these residents provided us with a unique perspective on life, emphasizing the importance of resilience, patience, and empathy. It showed us that small adjustments and support can significantly improve their daily lives. This volunteer experience taught us that, despite some challenges, we can’t give up easily.
Members who participated include:
Michael Zhang Li (3 hours), Maggie Xiao (3 hours), Haoyang Sun (3 hours), Kacie Li (3 hours)
Reporter: Kacie Li
