i’ve been at the senior center everyday this week, i’m usually only here once a week @mannycantornyc i spend the majority of every year volunteering, doing outreach or some sort of community based work, but i always put it into overdrive the last few months of the year. suicide & depression take no breaks but it seems that their batteries get a little extra charge when the temperature drops. it always makes me "laugh" when i think about the fact that us humans take the time to be racist, prejudice, and discriminatory towards others, and depression doesn’t give a shit what you look like, it happens to any one of us. depression/sickness does not debate your age, race, gender identity or background, it simply does not care, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t care about yourself, or that we shouldn’t care about others who DO deal with these things. my seniors here have so much love to give and so many more stories to tell, and sometimes the key to open that door of trust is a meal or a hug (preferably both) you’d be surprised what someone is struggling with until they feel safe enough to tell you. a lot of our folks here are Black, Jewish, AAPI or from Spanish speaking countries, some see their families from time to time, and some don’t, some have lost their families, but us spending these days together, week after week, month after month, year after year, it allows us to reshape what that means and to be present with people who are on their 2nd, 3rd, 4th or even 5th try at finding community, you’re never too old to find community and love, and you’re never too young to help.