People who wish to make a difference in a senior citizen’s life can volunteer their time with the Senior Friends program.

The program pairs a volunteer with a senior and gives them a chance to develop a relationship.

“It’s a great chance for a student and a senior to pair up by interests and build a friendship,” said Lynn Bergstrom, Senior Friends coordinator.

Both the senior and the volunteer fill out questionnaires based on their likes and dislikes and then are paired up by their interests.

The program is set up with seniors who live at the Golden Years Plaza high-rise complex, 507 E. Taylor St.

“There are no set requirements for how much they meet, but we suggest that they keep in touch at least once a week,” Bergstrom said.

The program also works around students’ schedules. Bergstrom said if a student volunteer needs to take time off for exams or the holiday, that is fine.

Any activities the pair want to do they can do, she said.

“A lot may want to go out shopping, to a movie or go out and eat,” Bergstrom said.

Ellen McMannis, a senior citizen involved in the program, said she likes the idea of the program because she likes to have people around all the time to talk with. McMannis said, however, other seniors have mixed feelings about the program.

“Some of the seniors here have different attitudes with the whole idea,” McMannis said. “Some of them don’t think they need to meet with anyone else.”

The first meeting was held last week in which the first group of volunteers met the seniors. Bergstrom said for the first meeting there were six volunteers and six seniors.

“The seniors were very excited when we had our first meeting,” Bergstrom said.

Bergstrom said the first meeting was small, but she said she hopes to have more people get involved.

For more information, call 847-359-7440.