ROSLYN, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — Two teenagers on Long Island are helping senior citizens in their community get online and schedule appointments for their COVID-19 vaccines.
Ava and Lily Weinstein, ages 15 and 16, of Roslyn, say their phones have been ringing off the hook with calls from seniors looking for help.
“We’ve had over 75 calls just this morning,” the girls tell WCBS 880.
The teens mission began when they went to help their grandparents make appointments.
“We were helping our grandparents make an appointment because they couldn't figure it out and there were so many other people who couldn’t figure it out that we've talked to and it was just a good time to help the community,” Ava said.
They put out flyers at a local senior living community with their contact information, telling residents there that they will help them make their appointments using New York’s scheduling website.
The girls say many of the seniors don’t have access to a computer and have been extremely grateful for the help.
“We're really close to our grandparents, so just helping them out made us feel good so, if we could help like two people, why can’t we help so many more,” Lily said.
The problem, they say, is that there are no appointments available for the seniors, so they started keeping a list of those who still need to have an appointment scheduled for them.
So far, their list includes over 150 seniors – including a 98-year-old woman – who they will help when more vaccines become available.
“They offered to pay us but it's not really something like we want to take money for – just us helping out the community,” the teens said.
The sisters say everyone they’ve helped has been so thankful, which is enough for them.
“Everyone’s just so grateful that we can help them. It’s really nice seeing the responses,” Ava said.
They’re hoping more vaccines become available quickly and that more teenagers will join their effort to help schedule appointments.