Not even a year into the club’s existence, Bridge the Gap members are giving manicures to elderly women.
Bridge the Gap was established to foster intergenerational cooperation and perform charitable services to communities of older adults. The organization works with retirement homes, nursing homes and hospices to provide service and care. The club’s name comes from their commitment to bridging the social gap between younger and older adults.
Bridge the Gap President and political science and history junior Emma Looney believes the communication gap between University students and senior citizens comes from the campus’ isolation.
“We might make it to Burbank [Drive] and then sometimes to Corporate [Boulevard], but students are not part of the Baton Rouge community,” Looney said. “It’s a problem not just for older people, but every underserved community in Baton Rouge needs more interaction from young people who are privileged and get to go to college and learn what we learn.”
The organization’s primary goal is to meet the needs of older people in Baton Rouge. Bridge the Gap members establish a line of communication by providing for the elderly in the community.
Looney and her roommate, biology junior and Bridge the Gap vice president Amana Sabir, came up with the idea of Bridge the Gap after noticing the absence of a club dedicated to serving the elderly community. The two share a passion for service and hope to spread that passion throughout the University’s campus.
“You can’t just go in there, and say I’m going to do this for you,” Looney said. “You have to ask people what they want.”
Along with visiting with the senior citizens, Bridge the Gap members play bingo and complete various household tasks for people on hospice, such as mowing the lawn or buying groceries. Hospices provide care and emotional support for terminally ill patients in a home setting to ensure quality of life can be maintained, and family members can be active in
the care.
After its founding during the fall 2017 semester, Bridge the Gap is now fully operational. The 25-member organization meets twice a month and plans various service events throughout the semester.
“If you want to serve people for the right reasons, you should join and see if you can make a difference in the Baton Rouge community,” Looney said.
In addition to manicure sessions the club plays bingo and hosted a Mardi Gras celebration at North Point Healthcare Center. 
“It doesn’t just have to be girls that know how to paint nails,” Looney said. “Guys can go, too. [Elderly women] just want to have their hands held and have hand massages. It’s not about the nails, it’s about the communication.”

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