Lori's Hands

Mission: To create connections between college students and community members with chronic illness through shared experiences, support, and mutual learning.

Lori’s Hands was founded in memory of Lori LaFave, a woman who made an impact on those around her through consistent acts of kindness. After Lori passed away from breast cancer in 2003, her daughter Sarah LaFave, a student at the University of Delaware, was inspired to carry on her mother’s legacy. Sarah and her classmates created Lori’s Hands as a way to support individuals with chronic illness while offering college students a meaningful experience.

What began as a student-led volunteer group has grown into a nonprofit organization that builds compassionate partnerships between college students and community members living with chronic conditions. Lori’s Hands now serves communities in Newark, DE; Baltimore, MD; and Metro Detroit, MI. At its core, the organization exists to foster empathy, connection, and mutual growth to ensure that every person, regardless of age or health status, is supported and heard.

Lori’s Hands brings together college students and community members with chronic illness in mutually enriching partnerships. Each week, student volunteers visit clients in their homes to offer hands-on support with day-to-day activities like grocery shopping, light cleaning, meal preparation, and errands. These visits help clients maintain independence and feel more connected in their communities.

Lori’s Hands provides students with a powerful, real-world learning experience. Through meaningful relationships with clients, students gain insight into the lived experience of chronic illness, aging, and navigating the healthcare system. This direct exposure helps empathy, deepens understanding of community health, and inspires future healthcare and human service professionals. Lori’s Hands fulfills its mission to build empathy, connection, and resilience to create stronger, more compassionate communities!