Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York is sponsoring #12DaysOfChristmas, an opportunity to perform acts of charity while enjoying fun-filled family activities. Participants are asked to follow along beginning Dec. 26:

12 Days of Christmas Challenge: Day Seven, Spend Time with Senior Citizens

Loneliness can be emotionally and physically detrimental. There are more than 1.73 million older New Yorkers in the City. Your Day Seven #12DaysOfChristmas Challenge — Spend time with senior citizens. Sharing your attention will help them feel valued, whether it’s by them sharing their wisdom, or by simply having a visitor.

Encore Senior Services, an affiliate of Catholic Charities New York, offers seniors a safe place to gather, participate in recreational activities and enjoy meals. We serve over 5,000 seniors each year. Read Jake Vu’s story of volunteering with seniors in this New York Times article, “Lean on Them.”

Use #TeamCatholicCharities when posting a photo of you and your family completing the challenge.