Ninety-year-old Floral Park resident Eileen Gallagher keeps a to-do list that she leaves on her counter once a week. But it isn’t for a family member — it’s for a local high school student.
Gallagher is one of the seniors who benefit from the services of Hire a Neighborhood Kid (HANK) Services for Seniors, a Floral Park-based organization pairing seniors seeking assistance with day-to-day tasks with teens. She receives help with tasks like snow removal and gardening.
“I’m very happy with it,” said Gallagher. “I’ve been in my house 60 years, and I always did all of the gardening and everything, but I’m just not able to anymore. I have my limits.”
HANK was founded for seniors like Gallagher in 2025 and has since been providing services in Floral Park, Stewart Manor and Garden City.
“The goal is to give the seniors a little more independence so hopefully they can stay at home a little bit longer,” said HANK founder Jeanine Springer. Another aspect of this service is to foster an intergenerational connection between the seniors and teens through programs like “chores and chat,” where a teen goes once a week to a senior’s house and does housework while providing companionship.
In exchange for their services, the teens get paid a discretionary amount by the seniors for their work. Springer said the payoff for the teens is more than just money.
“They are getting a sense of community and an understanding that they can make a difference in the world,” said Springer. Springer said that the teens are also getting life skills such as making phone calls, and budgeting their time
Springer said she is looking to expand HANK while remaining in the same three village area.
“If we grow, we will grow in terms of depth in the area,” said Springer. “We will provide more services, like a finance education seminar and things that would benefit the teens that they wouldn’t get otherwise.”
For more information visit HANKServices.org or call 516-760-9884
