Rivington House NYC

John and I have found a new "home" for volunteering and it is called Rivington House.

This is our "boss". I caught him by surprise. He is the director of volunteers and a nice guy.

We went in to volunteer today and I got a better photo of the boss. At least there is a smile this time. Handsome dude, huh?

The Rivington House web page says:

Rivington House
powered by United Way
Last updated on November 12, 2007

Our mission at Rivington House is to create a caring environment for persons with AIDS - where all are respected for their unique humanness and empowered to treat themselves and others with kindness, respect and dignity.

Description: 
Rivington House is a 206 bed long term care facility for people with AIDS. We provide services that are interactive and holistic in nature, integrating traditional and alternative therapies to support the individual living with AIDS.

History: 
Financed mostly with state bonds, Rivington House is a remarkable transformation from a dilapidated 1898 grammar school to a striking state of the art health care facility for people with AIDS.
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The facility is very nice and the staff is caring. Rivington House reminds us both of a wat (temple) we visited while in training in Thailand. It was founded by the monks and offers many levels of care. The staff at the wat was also very caring for the residents.

John is providing computer help desk support and I am a "visitor". It is good to know that my gift for gab as well as listening can be put to some use.

Keary is Six Years Old!

A soccer ball cake. How cool is that?


Six candles to blow out and then we eat. Lee can't wait to taste the cake too.


A Leggo set just like my Uncle Jeff used to have. And sharks. Wow!


An antique and hot rod car show. Keary and Lee.


Mom and Keary with a BIG fire engine.

Hanging Out With Leah

One of our favorite places to visit is a children's garden. The garden was created for therapeutic use by the hospital staff. There are many beautiful flowers as well as vegetables planted each year. Butterscotch the bunny lives in a hutch in the garden when the weather is nice and during the winter he moves into the attached greenhouse. In the greenhouse there are coy fish, a talking parrot and some parakeets along with lots of plants and flowers. (If you click on the photo it will enlarge and you can read the plaques.)


Sharing Cheerios with Grandpop.


Enjoying some water from a favorite frog. She has tried "kissing" him many times but no prince has appeared yet.


A driving lesson from Grandpop in the garden


The equipment on the wall required moving a ball up a channel on the right side all of the way up to the top and dropping it the start of a maze. But if you are not tall enough to reach the very top of that channel what can you do? Get a chair and climb on it!


Once the ball is released it rolls down the maze and hits a chime tube on the left side of the maze on its way down. And we are so very pleased with ourselves each time that chime rings out.


Time out for lunch. Peanut butter on toast of course.


Shhhhh! It's chocolate ice cream for dessert.


Ice cream really tastes better if you eat it outside. But it is really cold to hold. So ask Nana if she will do the honors. All you really have to do is give her a big smile.


Somebody really loves chocolate. Can you tell?


Most places we go, including bus trips (that are very popular), our friends Koala Bear and Poo Bear must come with us.


Blowing bubbles in the garden for Grandpop.


First, blow the bubbles.


Then she can catch the bubbles too!