From April 12 to June 15, 2025, Chinmaya Mission Niagara’s Safety of Society Circle carried out Honoring Our Elders — an initiative to raise awareness about the neglect and abuse our elders face and to encourage active efforts to care for our elders.

The initiative was rooted in three core pillars:

Giving Effort:
Each week, commUnity members took intentional action to support an elder — offering companionship, helping with errands, sharing meals, or engaging in meaningful conversation. These small acts are powerful reminders of how care and connection uplift lives.

Giving Time:
Our commUnity listened to and reflected on eight podcast episodes exploring themes of aging with grace, intergenerational connection, and compassionate elder care.

Giving Resources:
Our commUnity raised $21,160 for charities supporting our elders. We raised $13,155 for Meals on Wheels chapters helping seniors meet critical nutritional and social needs and $8,005 for Trellis Connects, supporting older adults and caregivers through community-based services and education.

Nearly 1 in 10 people over 60 have experienced some form of elder abuse and during the COVID pandemic, 1 in 5 older adults reported elder abuse. Through learning, service, and heart, the commUnity came together to reaffirm our commitment to honoring our elder generation.