At The Mariner, Marblehead’s newest assisted living facility, new traditions are being made. On Sunday, Nov. 3, the Marblehead-based nonprofit SPUR hosted its second monthly game day. Teen and tween volunteers from the area signed up for an afternoon of cards, board games and bonding with senior community members.
Starting at 3 p.m., a Mariner rec room overlooking beautifully manicured lawns was filled with Marblehead High School students, Girl Scouts and young volunteers. As Mariner residents arrived, SPUR director Lynne Krasker discussed the project’s philosophy.
“Our goal is to make volunteering easily accessible — for all ages.”
SPUR organizes teen and tween volunteering events, including decorating paper bags for Halloween candy donations, sewing labels onto pillowcases for holiday gift drives and volunteering at local soup kitchens like My Brother’s Table. The goal is to make volunteering appealing to teens by working with peers.
Aeton Pararas, 12, came up with the idea for game day after visiting his grandmother’s elder care facility. His mother, Erin Pararas, praised SPUR for helping Aeton achieve his goal.
“When we first moved here, we struggled finding the right place.”
Many volunteering agencies require strict commitments, making it difficult to start a service project. Krasker emphasized SPUR’s episodic layout, allowing involvement without fearing long-term commitments.
“It’s a different mentality.”
For young volunteers, this format pays off. New faces, like Girl Scouts, joined returning volunteers. SPUR logs service hours automatically for school requirements.
Game day repeats on the first Sunday of every month. SPUR plans to expand to North Shore facilities like Colonial Gardens and gear up for the annual Holiday Cheer drive, filling stockings for those struggling financially.
For more information, visit spurnorthshore.org/.
