BY MELANIE ULLE
You’ve probably seen their signs or heard about them from a neighbor. Or maybe you’ve overheard me in a nearby coffee shop lamenting the change in demographics in the area and the need to keep aging adults in our neighborhoods or risk losing the stories, character and history of the places where we live. And then I would’ve said, “Alas, there is a solution!” and you would’ve listened closely and written a note to yourself reminding you to look into this little gem of an organization. But allow me to jog your memory.
A Little Help is built on the idea that older adults can age in place with dignity, and in doing so, they create stronger, more vibrant communities for everyone.
“Real, meaningful connections are hard to make in 2025,” says Metro Denver Director Jake Dresden. “For a variety of reasons, people don’t interact as naturally or regularly as we used to. Aside from the nostalgia of a bygone era, I believe that A Little Help in our own way, can be an antidote to that disconnect by allowing neighbors to re-connect with each other through the vehicle of service. Additionally, allowing older adults members to age in place (in their homes) is good for our members financially and emotionally, and good for the community as it can create truly intergenerational neighborhoods.”
A Little Help is built on the simple, powerful idea that neighbors can support neighbors. Their model serves as an antidote to modern disconnect by allowing people to reconnect with one another through community service.
The impact of this approach is felt on both sides. For older members, it provides the essential support needed to stay in their homes, offering both financial and emotional security. Many are on fixed incomes, and their families may live far away. As Jake explains, “A Little Help provides that bridge for our members by connecting them with able volunteers to do the tasks and provide the companionship that may not be there otherwise.” For volunteers, the benefits are just as meaningful. Stepping up to help a neighbor is a worthwhile act that boosts your mental health and self-esteem, but the real reward is the human connection you forge.
While A Little Help offers year-round support, their signature event, Service Saturday, is a celebration of community. “It has been, and will continue to be successful, because it brings so many different people out in the service of older adults,” Jake says.
The event, which originated in 2012, has a high-energy kickoff at South High that draws hundreds of volunteers, from families and students to businesses and faith-based groups. Over 300 volunteers will help well over 100 older adults with seasonal chores like raking leaves. Seeing such a substantial number of people gathered to help encourages folks in a non-threatening way to get involved on a deeper level.
For Jake, his favorite Service Saturday story is personal. He recalls his first time volunteering back in 2015, when he and his family were assigned to help two members, Betty and Beverly. “Little did we know that those two women would become good friends of ours and that we would assist them in their homes for years to come,” he shares. That day, he says, he felt how good it was to know they had brightened someone’s day and tidied up their yard in the process. That kind of authentic, long-term connection is the real outcome of a Service Saturday.
The need for A Little Help’s work is growing every day. AARP estimates that more than 10,000 Americans turn 65 daily, and many are choosing to retire in Colorado. As Jake notes, “We can’t rely solely on government support and we know that families need assistance to care for their aging loved ones.”
Organizations like A Little Help play a key role in building local communities of support that are flexible and, well… neighborly. Doesn’t that sound like a really good idea, especially now? I thought so.
Jake and the team at A Little Help hope you will join them for this years’ Service Saturday on November 15th. To learn more and get involved, visit alittlehelp.org/Volunteer.