Freehold High School Student Fosters Connection With Local Seniors

FREEHOLD, NJ — Freehold High School freshman Inaaya Siddiqi has always had a love of helping others.

Inaaya, 14, grew up helping her grandparents with various tasks. Whether it was helping them go down the stairs, making them food, or just taking the time to talk, Inaaya wanted to be there to assist with whatever they needed.

This passion only grew as Inaaya got older. Bringing a smile to her grandfather's face (who has dementia) is something she often found joy in, she told Patch.

“I've grown up helping him," Inaaya said. "I love being able to make sure that he, and others, get the help they need and have what they need for a fulfilling life."

It was her love of helping others that eventually led Inaaya to begin work with local senior citizens and start volunteering at organizations such as Liv Like A Unicorn, CentraState Hospital in Freehold, and Sunrise Senior Living Center in Marlboro.

In her volunteer work, Inaaya has been able to work on various projects and events to support local seniors (and citizens in general) as well as encourage active lifestyles.

One such project was a Spring Tea Party she recently organized and hosted at Sunrise Senior Living, which included Inaaya planning the event, decorating the venue, and baking desserts for residents. The party helped to get seniors outside and encouraged socialization between them.

“It was all spring-themed,” Inaaya said. “We decorated with flowers and everything. We also had two other volunteers come in to help with gardening.”

The party was planned as part of services from All4Smiles, Inaaya said, a nonprofit organization that aims to improve the lives of seniors by uplifting their environments and fostering connections between them and youth.

Currently, Inaaya serves as the organization's vice president, and helps with various events and workshops aimed at supporting seniors and building lasting relationships.

The Magic of Music (where high school students bring live music performances to senior centers), ConnectEd (which helps seniors with basic digital services), and Generation Connected (which allows youth volunteers and seniors to connect) are just some of the programs All4Smiles provides.

“What’s important about this work is that seniors can, at times, be neglected or overlooked,” Inaaya said. “That’s why we need to focus on providing them help and making sure they get the things they need to have a fulfilling life.”

Going forward, Inaaya said she plans to open a chapter of All4Smiles at her high school, in hopes that more students connect with seniors and that the organization "branches out as much as possible."

"I feel really uplifted giving back to the community," Inaaya said. "It's always nice to put a smile on people's faces."