'Come Alive' Russian program enriches seniors' lives for 30 years

The Come Alive Russian Division — a program that caters to Russian-speaking older adults in the Five Towns, Far Rockaway and surrounding communities — was established 30 years ago, and is still going strong.

The program, created by the JCC of the Greater Five Towns, now the Marion & Aaron Gural JCC, has 45 members, most of them natives of the Soviet Union, who go on day trips and take part in other activities.

Stephanie Zevon, director of the JCC’s older adult engagement, said the program was started to fill a need in the community. “People saw their parents were sitting home, they were isolated and not being stimulated emotionally, mentally and physically,” Zevon said. “So, as a grass-roots operation, the JCC said, let’s put a program together for them to get them out of the house.”

Members meet seven days a week, and receive free breakfast, lunch and transportation by bus, courtesy of the JCC. The program is free, and funded by the JCC.

“We focus on the music, arts and culture of the Russian population we serve,” Yulia Gross, the Russian Division’s director, said. “It allows them the opportunity to spend time with individuals with similar history, backgrounds and culture.”

The program takes members swimming in the summer, as well as for walks, fishing, shopping, day trips to museums, concerts, visits to gardens and other social activities. It also helps introduce them to other Russian speakers.

Members love arts and culture, and they most recently went to see the cherry blossoms and orchids at Untermyer Gardens in Yonkers.

“They celebrate their birthdays, holidays, Jewish holidays, Russian holidays, together as a family,” Gross said.

All of the staff and volunteers speak Russian. “We are the only program in Nassau County that provides the Russian-speaking adult community with a program,” Zevon said.

The members have many opportunities to get together, which makes the group special, she added.

Students from Hewlett High School also volunteer with the adults as part of the JCC’s Generational Bridges program, which helps connect the older and younger generations. The students spend time with the seniors and learn more about them, cooking and exercising with them, teaching them about technology and accompany them on the trips.

Zachary Renzin, a Hewlett High senior, helped form Generational Bridges after being part of Butterfly Theater, a Russian-speaking theater group affiliated with the JCC, since age 6.

Edith Galperin, a theatre professional, ran the theater, and introduced Renzin to the Russian Division.

“Many of these people were away from their families, and seeing us brought them much joy,” Renzin said. “We recruited many like-minded individuals to come in and volunteer for hours with us. This helped us create our name of Generational Bridges.”

Renzin, who speaks fluent Russian, has helped draw more attention to the program and bring in more Russian student volunteers.

“I would definitely say that my favorite part of volunteering is seeing the smiles on all the faces,” he said. “Who could think that simply showing up and participating for an hour can make a person’s day or even week?”

The members appreciate the volunteers, and often give them fruit and candy to thank them.

“This kind gesture definitely encourages our volunteers to keep on volunteering and putting smiles on people’s faces,” Renzin said.

Anyone interested in joining the Come Alive Russian Division can contact Gross at (516) 569-6733, ext. 214.