The Coffee Club is a student-run organization whose mission is to volunteer and bring joy to nursing homes, according to VLink.
Every Sunday, the club meets up to bring fun activities to the seniors in the Village Healthcare and Rehabilitation nursing home.
Its focus is described as “CAF,” Community, Action, and Fellowship, with a side of caffeine.
Dylan Jimenez, the Coffee Club president, said he brought the club to life last fall after realizing there were no groups dedicated to volunteering in nursing homes.
“It can get very lonely [in nursing homes,]” Jimenez said. “We understand that, at one point or another, everyone needs someone to talk to. So, that’s what we do.”
He added the club offers a variety of activities for residents to enjoy, such as bingo nights and Zumba sessions. On special occasions, the events become more personalized, with female residents having the opportunity to get their nails painted, while male residents can gather together to enjoy card games.
“I really want this club to be a banner of hope for giving back to the community,” Jimenez said. “I hate to imagine my grandparents being alone in a nursing home, having no one to talk to. I want people to realize, ‘Hey, don’t forget about your elders, just try and give back as much as you can’”
He said the Coffee Club has recently added a Brownsville chapter, extending its reach to the local nursing homes there.
“Our Brownsville [club] is gonna need new members,” Jimenez said. “I just really hope this continues and we can continue leaving an impact at UTRGV.”
For students interested in joining the club, contact dylan.jimenez02@utrgv.edu for the Edinburg campus and ava.delagarza01@utrgv.edu for the Brownsville campus.
