ITW Volunteers Bring Music, Movement, and Meaning to Adult Day Services

Six volunteers from ITW’s APEN (Asian Professionals Engagement Network) ERG spent a morning at CASL’s Adult Day Services, joining seniors for fitness, birthday celebrations, and a bit of on-the-spot karaoke.

 

The group started by decorating Harmony Hall for ADS’s monthly birthday party, a celebration for seniors marking their birthdays that month. As they hung decorations, clients began arriving for Enhance Fitness class — a program designed to keep seniors’ muscles and joints active and reduce fall-related injury risk. The volunteers jumped in and joined the stretches, decorations still in hand.

One client paused the class to make sure everyone knew each other first. After introductions and a laugh, the group got back to it.

Once fitness wrapped, the volunteers helped reset the room for the birthday sing-along. Clients led with “The More We Get Together” and a few traditional Chinese birthday songs, then turned the tables — putting the volunteers on the spot to sing “Happy Birthday” in both English and Chinese.

Volunteers got a firsthand look at what staff already know — the bond between ADS clients and staff runs deep.

“We had a great time exercising, singing birthday songs, and celebrating with the seniors. Everyone was smiling, laughing, and enjoying the moment together. It was a heartwarming experience and a reminder of how much joy can come from simply spending time with one another.”

-Youngbin Kim, ITW APEN Volunteer

CASL is grateful for partners like ITW who show up to experience our programs in person. Corporate volunteer days like this one help sustain the everyday moments that make Adult Day Services feel like home.

Interested in a corporate volunteer day or partnership with CASL? Visit casl.org/partnership to learn more.