By Michelle Sonia, President and CEO
Seniors Helping Seniors Boston South Shore

It seems there is a “national day” for just about everything. Some days even have multiple things to celebrate. As we head into the busy holiday season, one of these special days resonates with me – National Roots Day.
If you aren’t familiar with this particular festivity, National Roots Day is celebrated on December 23 every year. The day is intended to encourage people to connect with their heritage. This can mean anything from telling stories, researching your ancestors, or creating new memories with loved ones. It seems right, then, that National Roots Day falls within the busy holiday season during which people often gather with friends and family to share traditions.
At Seniors Helping Seniors Boston South Shore, we honor National Roots Day and the meaning behind it every day. We continue the mission of the original founder, Kiran Yocum, and her 14-year dedication to working with Mother Teresa. It is this legacy that drives us to create a team of passionate caregivers who encourage our clients to share their life stories and wisdom. This year to help our clients celebrate National Roots Day, our caregivers have been working on special activities that we hope will provide inspiration to others.
Creating a family tree
On a recent visit, one of our memory-care clients shared with his caregiver that he would like to know more about his heritage. He is very proud of his family, and he wanted help to memorialize their history while he is still able to recall the details. For the last few weeks, the pair have been working on a family tree. Using both personal stories and online resources, they have been able to document several generations of ancestors so that future generations have insight into our client’s past.
Sharing traditions
The holidays are a time of joy, but there can also be a sense of loneliness for seniors who may live far from loved ones or who have experienced a loss. One of our caregivers is especially attuned to this need and decided that she would offer to celebrate Hanukkah by lighting the menorah with any of our Jewish clients. Sharing this tradition and helping our clients to meaningfully take part in their faith is something that can bring peace and happiness to our clients as they reflect on their roots. It can also help to create new memories and new traditions to share with loved ones.
Giving back
Reflecting on a time in her life when her family was struggling, one of our clients wanted to find a way to help others during this holiday season. Knowing that there are many people right now with food insecurity, our client and our caregiver paired up to create a neighborhood “food pantry” at the end of her street. They started by providing staples, but soon they decided it would be fun to share family recipes with others. They printed recipe cards, put together kits with the necessary ingredients, and added them to the “food pantry.” Our client was able to pay it forward and return the generosity of those who had helped her family in the past.
This year, our family will be celebrating National Roots Day with a new member. Our son was born in September, just days after our open house that many of you attended. It is my hope that Seniors Helping Seniors Boston South Shore becomes an integral part of his roots. Our goal is to improve both dignity and quality of life to help our seniors thrive both physically and mentally. We pair seniors who would like to stay active – as well as supplement their income – with other seniors in need of services. It’s a win-win.

About the Author: Michelle Sonia is the president and CEO of Seniors Helping Seniors Boston South Shore. Michelle grew up in Hanson and lives in Weymouth. She was valedictorian at Notre Dame Academy and holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Having worked in management consulting for more than 15 years, she is now excited about making an impact on her community. For more information, visit www.shsbostonsouthshore.com, email info@shsbostonsouthshore.com, or call 781-626-4800.