Photo: Shari Small/WBZ NewsRadio
SHARON, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A Sharon High School student is trying to cure loneliness one phone call at a time.
15-year-old Nolan Zibrak created GoldenVoice Outreach to give isolated senior citizens a friendly voice to talk to at no cost. Each week, seniors receive calls from a team of volunteers who are matched up based on common interests and personalities.
“We are really a vital source of connection for them because studies have proven that a social connection can improve your mental [health] and, more importantly, your physical health can improve,” said Zibrak.
It all started with catching up with his own grandmother.
“I realized how happy it made her to see me call, so I thought that seniors should be able to experience the calls that my grandmother got and not feel lonely,” said Zibrak. “We envision a world where no senior feels alone.”
Seniors can sign themselves up, or family members and caretakers can sign up on behalf of a senior. For Zibrak, it is already creating a positive impact in his community.
“They tell me that it really makes their week. They really look forward to these calls. It really warms my heart,” said Zibrak.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Shari Small (@ShariSmallNews) reports.
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