Summer Sizzlers Youth Work/Volunteer Program

The Summer "Sizzlers" are teens between the ages of 14-16 that work/volunteer with the Recreation Department at Seashore Gardens Living Center from June to August. For every hour the Sizzlers work, they volunteer an hour. When working "Sizzlers" paint residents’ nails, take residents for walks, and help with general office duties. Volunteer activities consist of decorating for themed-parties, watering plants, and assisting with arts and crafts. The summer program provides an opportunity for teenagers to get involved in the community while learning basic work ethics and clarifying perceptions of the elderly.

Since its inception the Summer Sizzler Youth Program has received an overwhelming response from the community. In 2001, more than 120 local teenagers applied for 20 openings to become Summer Sizzlers for the first year of the program. In 2003, Generations United (GU), a national organization that focuses solely on promoting intergenerational strategies, programs, and policies, invited Seashore Gardens Living Center to present the Summer Sizzler Youth Program as a roundtable discussion on Intergenerational Programming at their International Conference in Alexandria, VA.

NJANPHA, the New Jersey Association of Non Profit Homes for the Aging, awarded Seashore Gardens Living Center with the "Innovative Program of the Year" Award for its Summer Sizzler Youth Program. "The ‘Innovative Program of the Year’ award was designed to recognize creative programs and services which expand service options for the residents. These programs promote quality of life for the residents, enhance the workplace for staff, and enrich the surrounding community. The Summer Sizzler Program at Seashore Gardens Living Center epitomizes this award," said June Duggan, President/CEO of NJANPHA.

For more information about the Summer Sizzler Program, please contact Missy Rundio, Director of Recreation & Volunteers at 609-748-4407 or by email at rundiom@seashoregardens.org.