Zekeinim Neighbors
Screened volunteers matched with older adults for regular calls, visits, and shared activities.
A familiar face. A connection that continues.
A little more connection starts here
Growing oldershould never meangrowing apart.
Zekeinim works to prevent and ease loneliness among older adults through lasting relationships, community involvement, and access to professional mental health support. We are starting in Baltimore; our programs, including therapist support, are in development.
Rooted in Jewish values. Open to older adults of every background. Our programs are in development.
A person should never have to be in a crisis to deserve some extra kindness.
BALTIMORE FIRSTAt home · With family · Assisted living · Nursing homesWhy this matters
Where do you begin?
There is a place for you here.
Whether you are an older adult, a family member, a neighbor, or someone looking to give back, we want to make reaching out simple.
01 / FIND CONNECTION
For me or someone I care about
Tell us what sort of connection or kindness would make a difference. We are gathering interest as we prepare our pilot.
↗ 02 / GIVE YOUR TIMEI would love to help
A call, a visit, a card, an activity, or behind-the-scenes help. There are many ways to show up.
↗ 03 / ENJOY SOMETHING NOWLet's do something together
Try a conversation prompt or print a large-print activity. The activity room is already open to explore.
↗Why we're starting
Loneliness can happen even when people aren't alone.
Someone may have family who loves them, live in a busy building, or go about their day as usual and still wish someone would check in. Loneliness isn’t always easy to see. A meaningful connection can make a difference.
Zekeinim is being created to make it easier for a community to notice, care, and follow up. No grand gesture required.
Read our storyWhat matters to us
A person should never have to be in a crisis to deserve some extra kindness.
Our guiding idea for Zekeinim
For every living situation.
People living independently, with relatives, or in senior communities deserve the same chance to feel connected.
People living independently, with relatives, or in senior communities deserve the same chance to feel connected.
Three ways to grow connection
A familiar face. A place to belong.
Our planned programs bring together ongoing companionship, community life, and professional support.
Community gatherings
Welcoming opportunities to meet people through meals, speakers, music, and activities, with families and volunteers invited to join.
Professional support
We aim to use fundraising to pay licensed mental health therapists to support participating older adults. This service is not available yet.
A simple path to belonging
Not just a list of services.
Our goal is to help each person find a next step that makes sense for them. This is the process we want to pilot in Baltimore.
STEP ONE
Someone reaches out
An older adult, loved one, or community member lets us know a connection could help.
STEP TWO
We listen first
When our pilot is ready, our team will learn what matters to the individual and what support is appropriate.
STEP THREE
We keep people in mind
We hope to match requests with screened volunteers, activities, small acts of care, or trusted resources, then check back.
These are proposed future steps, not a promise of services already operating.
Help us make Baltimore feel smaller
Know an older adult who would love another familiar face?
You can share an inquiry without submitting someone else's private information. We are listening to the community while we build.
Help us grow
Make more connection possible.
See how future support could help bring visits, thoughtful gestures, and community gatherings to life.