‘THE OLD FARTS’: REUNITING EVERY YEAR TO VOLUNTEER

Gary and his three college friends proudly call themselves ‘The Old Farts’; an inspiring group from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Class of ‘68 who return to volunteer with All Hands and Hearts (AHAH) yearly. Their support has been seen across earthquake relief in Nepal, to hurricane-stricken areas in the Florida Keys and housing initiatives for Ukrainian refugees.

Gary shares the circumstances that brought the team together and what keeps them coming back.

WHERE IT BEGAN

Our story begins right around the onset of the Vietnam War. Like in many lives, uncontrollable events can alter our paths, often with terrible consequences. However, we were fortunate enough to be brought together in the aftermath of such events, by being able to do some good. The major events in this case were the Vietnam War, and then more recently, earthquakes, hurricanes and another war.

The Vietnam War prompted each of us to avoid participation. In 1968, I, Gary, obtained a deferment by joining the Peace Corps, choosing Nepal as my destination. The results were fantastic: I served longer than usual as an agricultural extension agent and gained a second home country and family, with whom I remain in close contact.

When the 2015 earthquake hit Nepal, I wanted to fly there immediately. Though my close friends were safe, many others were affected. Online searches yielded no volunteer opportunities for foreigners. By luck, I was connected with All Hands and Hearts. In January 2017, I finally reached the base north of Kathmandu. I worked at two schools. The first was near completion, and I had the pleasure of attending the handover ceremony. At the second site, school was in session. The students, upon realizing I could speak Nepali, sought me out for many wonderful conversations. They addressed me as “grandfather” out of respect for elders. Acquiring about 200 grandchildren was one of the unexpected highlights of my time at Kalyani Devi.

THE VOLUNTEER SPIRIT

My experience with AHAH in Nepal was wonderful. I had volunteered in Nepal before, but this time I was able to live in close quarters with volunteers from all over the world.

The AHAH model of quick response and relief impressed me greatly, but what stands out most is the volunteer spirit and energetic cooperation towards a shared goal.

This is why I aim to join an AHAH program for a couple of weeks every year until I can no longer do so. 

‘THE OLD FARTS’

Not long after I returned from Nepal, a hurricane hit the Florida Keys, where Ron, my college fraternity brother at MIT, was living. I contacted him, and together we volunteered with AHAH. From that point on, my goal became to add at least one person to my “team” each year. Jerry joined us next in North Carolina, followed by Brooks in Texas. After all these years, we had our four college fraternity brothers back together.

Most AHAH volunteers are energetic young adults, and since we are in the minority at our age, we adopted the nickname ‘The Old Farts’.

HONORARY MEMBERS

When war broke out in Ukraine, I was reassured to see AHAH respond to this disaster as it always does: by quickly assessing the situation and getting to work. Jerry and I went to Poland to help improve housing for Ukrainian refugees. Here, we were happy to meet other retirees who also had the time, determination and, luckily, well-functioning bodies to be able to volunteer. We invited the others to be honorary members of ‘The Old Farts.’

We have been privileged to serve with AHAH, always thanking the founders, management, staff and volunteers when we leave. Without all these people, AHAH wouldn’t achieve the great results it does.

At All Hands and Hearts, we are deeply grateful for volunteers like Gary and his group of “Old Farts.” Their dedication and resilience embody the spirit of our mission. Volunteers are the backbone of AHAH, driving our efforts to respond swiftly and effectively to disasters around the world. We invite everyone, regardless of age, to join us in making a difference. Your time, energy and compassion are invaluable in helping communities rebuild and thrive. Together, we can continue to bring hope and support to communities around the world.

Learn more about our current volunteering opportunities here.