BUFFALO, N.Y. — At 86-years-old, Kaye Hughes had one simple request.
"I wanted to go back to the zoo," she said.
But with living in an assisted living facility in Hamburg, that just wasn't possible.
"My family won't take me and I hadn't been there since grade school in East Aurora," she said.
And that's where Senior Wishes steps in.
Wendy Miller Backman founded the charity 10 years ago. Since it's inception they've granted close to 500 wishes for the elderly in Western New York.
From taking a WWII veteran to sit in the cockpit of a C-130 plane at the Niagara Falls airbase, to taking a woman on a sleigh ride, teaching guitar and photography lessons, horseback riding, fishing trips, going to a Bills or Sabres game, throwing out the first pitch at a Bisons game, or reuniting the elderly with their family members, the wishes run the gamut, but each one is immensely impactful.
"A lot of these people feel like they're forgotten and we bring them out and show them that they're not. We remember them. They mean something still," said Backman.
Now the Senior Wishes programming goes beyond just wish granting. They give Valentine's and Christmas gifts, and around Veteran's Day they deliver Hero Boxes, filled with a hat, books, games, and a blanket.
"We just want to go out and honor our senior veterans," said Backman.
Daniel Quigley served in Korea and Vietnam and he said he was moved to tears when he received a Hero Box.
"It made me feel good. They respected me for what I did and I really appreciate it and I feel grateful to the organization till the day I die," said Quigley.
And Kaye got her wish. She had a tour of the zoo with a docent, lunch, and shopping spree in the gift shop.
"The otters, they were right in front of me in the wheelchair with a kid here and a kid there, and we were having such a good time. I'll never forget that," she recalled.
Senior Wishes relies on volunteers and donations. But those who give, say they end up receiving so much more.
"It's so rewarding to be able to see pure joy coming from someone especially a senior that might not have a lot of joy in their lives," said Backman.
For Kaye, it was a joy-filled day which created memories to last a lifetime, thanks to Senior Wishes.
"I don't mean to cry, but I felt loved. It was great. I'll never forget it," she said.
To find out more information about nominating a senior to have a wish granted or receive a Hero Box, or to donate or volunteer, visit the Senior Wishes website here.
To see more stories in the Selfless Among Us series, click the links below.
