A Sad Goodbye to Rivington House

As mentioned in previous entries, John and I have been volunteering at Rivington House for just about a year now. We are leaving NYC and we had to say our goodbyes yesterday. We found Rivington House shortly after arriving in Manhattan from our Peace Corps experience in Thailand. While in Thailand the PC took our group on a trip to see a facility located at Wat Phrabatnampo ("Wat" is a Thai Buddhist temple) in Lop Buri Province that cared for persons with HIV/AIDS and related illnesses. The monks and staff treated all residents with patience, compassion, and understanding. In Thailand the people known to have HIV/AIDS are shunned. Residents are often delivered to the gates of the wat in the middle of the night by their family and abandoned. The wat proves to be a refuge as well as a safe place where they can receive necessary medication and care. The wat had a big influence on us.

Rivington House is similar to the wat we saw. In the U.S. persons with HIV/AIDS have gained more understanding and acceptance than in the past. But there are still some who for one reason or another are very ill and receive no visitors or support from outside of the facility. To me, a volunteer classified as "a friendly visitor," this is when the caring and compassion of the Rivington House staff shines. I spent most of my time on one floor. I had the opportunity to see amazing vignettes of caring from all levels of staff. A nursing aid taking the time to sit with a mentally challenged resident and sing nursery rhymes. Custodians who greet residents by name, with a smile, and ask how they are doing. Another nursing aid braiding the hair of a resident incapable of doing so.

In addition to the attention and care provided by staff, there are the volunteers. Rivington House would not be Rivington House without its volunteers!


Above is a portrait of Dr. Nicholas Rango. His portrait hangs in the library where John worked. Dr. Rango was the driving force in the founding of Rivington House. The building was formerly a public school.


When you enter the building, the first thing you see is the security desk. These guys do a magnificent job. The desk is manned 24 hours a day. In addition there are cameras throughout the building that are monitored at this desk at all times. Residents are required to have a pass in order to go out. The security personnel are responsible to make certain that no drugs or paraphernalia come into the building. Security also walks the halls to ensure everyone's safety.


Can't mention volunteers without showing you one of the best! Here is the house barber. He comes once each week to give haircuts, blow dries, shaves at ridiculous prices. The prices are well within the allowance each resident receives for incidental expenses. He is cheerful, professional, and an expert at giving haircuts while someone is sitting in a wheelchair.


This is Tamara. Tamara was the recreational therapist on the floor where I volunteered. She requested a volunteer "friendly visitor" from the Director of Volunteers (Gerry) and so she got me. To my great dismay - due to budget cuts by our Governor - Tamara and Gerry were both laid off several weeks ago.