When Melissa Ungar, Folkstone Drive, walked into a senior living facility one Sunday afternoon nearly a decade ago, she wasn’t just looking for a way to fill time. She was looking for connection — and found one with Ruth, a sharp-witted woman in her mid-80s who wanted someone to play Scrabble.
“I went over every Sunday at two o’clock and we played Scrabble for a couple of hours,” Ungar said. “This woman was sharp as a tack. Her vocabulary was incredible.”
That relationship — built one word tile at a time — grew into a friendship that Ungar still remembers years later. It’s also a reflection of what organizers hope to rekindle through the Sunshine Club, a volunteer program run through Chabad of the South Hills that connects children, teens and adults with seniors in local facilities for regular visits built around conversation, companionship or shared activities.
The program began before the COVID-19 pandemic, paused during lockdowns, and is now restarting with a renewed focus on intergenerational connection.
“In my experience of working with different senior programs over the years, I realized that there is a lot of need for companionship,” said Batya Rosenblum, who helps lead senior outreach for Chabad of the South Hills. “Just someone for them to talk to, to share with, to either listen or to talk with a visitor.”
Rosenblum, Ridgefield Avenue, came up with the idea after decades of visiting senior facilities and hosting holiday programs tied to Jewish traditions. She noticed that many seniors craved more one-on-one relationships.
“A personal connection, a personal touch, even once a week or once every other week — that is a very, very powerful thing,” she said.
The Sunshine Club is not limited to Jewish participants. Volunteers complete an interest form and are matched with seniors based on comfort level, availability and shared interests. Rosenblum introduces paired volunteers and seniors during the first visit to ensure both sides feel comfortable.
“It’s really special because each senior and visitor together, they see what works best for them,” she said. “Sometimes it’s Scrabble, sometimes baking, sometimes just talking or looking through pictures.”
Hindy Rosenblum, Martin Avenue, coordinates program logistics and said the Sunshine Club is a great way to involve teens and families in meaningful service.
“Just giving back to the community and doing something that’s community-based is great,” she said, adding that the program challenges the idea that volunteering with seniors is one-sided.
“I really want people to feel like it’s a two-way street,” she said. “There’s so much you can really learn from them and their experiences in life.”
Ungar agrees. What started as a way to fill quiet Sundays became something much deeper.
“I had this purpose and I had this friend. I enjoyed the visits as much as she did, probably,” she said.
The visits ended in 2020 when facilities closed to visitors. Ungar stayed in touch as long as she could, even dropping off small items at the front desk until that, too, was no longer allowed. Ruth died a few months later.
“It was very sad,” Ungar said. “She was really a part of my life for so many years.”
Now, as the Sunshine Club relaunches, Ungar plans to volunteer again.
“If you find the right match, it’s going to become more than just a visit,” she said.
Organizers hope others will feel the same pull — not out of obligation, but out of curiosity and care.
“You think you’re giving,” Batya Rosenblum said, “but in return, you’re receiving so much more.”
For more information about the Sunshine Club or to sign up as a volunteer, visit chabadsh.com/sunshine [1].