Join our community today!
If you're a CT resident or a student attending college in CT or at Amherst College in MA, we invite you to join the fall 2021 Tea @ 3 Community which runs mid-September - end of November 2021.
- Discover the health benefits of drinking tea and making time for yourself,
- Enjoy the wonderful experience of talking via the phone or a video call once a week with your Tea-Mate from another generation, and
- Join fellow community members for 3 virtual Community-wide sessions!
Your welcome kit
You'll receive a welcome kit in the mail that includes a handmade mug cozy, a one-month supply of tea, a Bare Life coconut hot cocoa packet*, conversation starters to set you on the path to a new friendship, and other ideas for social engagement.
*Thanks to Ali at Bare Life for providing a packet of crave-worthy and allergen friendly coconut hot cocoa for every community member!
Your Tea-Mate
You'll be matched with a Tea-Mate of a different generation for a phone call or video chat once a week. You'll connect over tea, enjoy a wonderful conversation - and perhaps share words of wisdom, too.
Community-wide events
We're excited to offer 3 virtual community-wide events this fall!
Community-wide events
Discover the Power of Your Story: 9/21/21 at 4:00 pm
Discover the Power of Your Story: 9/21/21 at 4:00 pm
Discover the Power of Your Story: 9/21/21 at 4:00 pm
Ira Glass of This American Life says, “Great stories happen to people who know how to tell them.”
In this special Tea @ 3 event, professional storyteller Terry Wolfisch Cole of Tell Me Another will teach you everything you need to know to engage any audience. The session will include an opportunity to hear Terry tell a story as well as tips and tricks for effective storytelling.
Community Gathering: 10/25/21 at 4:00 pm
Discover the Power of Your Story: 9/21/21 at 4:00 pm
Discover the Power of Your Story: 9/21/21 at 4:00 pm
We'll gather virtually on October 25 (International Artist's Day) for a community-wide event fostering your connection with your Tea-Mate - and with other Community members (that just may have something to do with art - no experience required!).
End of Session Celebration: 12/1/21 at 4:00 pm
Discover the Power of Your Story: 9/21/21 at 4:00 pm
End of Session Celebration: 12/1/21 at 4:00 pm
On December 1, we'll celebrate the friendships made this fall during a virtual party (details will be forthcoming).
Why Tea?
A cup of tea makes everything better.
For centuries, tea has been used for far more than quenching thirst. Around the world people drink it to relax, reinvigorate and soothe, and it's something we need now more than ever.
Just the facts, ma'am...
Did you know that the mental and physical benefits of drinking tea are documented in numerous scientific studies? These benefits include:
* Reducing anxiety and improving mood via the amino acid L-theanine;
* Reducing the risk of cognitive decline by 50%; and
* Preventing cardivascular disease and increasing lifespan via polyphenols, a compound found in both black and green tea.
And yet it's so much more than sipping tea - it's a dose of positivi-tea!
When you join us for Tea @ 3, you'll become a member of a community of tea drinkers of varying ages who are in it for more than just the tea.
When you sit down for your cup of tea at 3:00 pm (or another time that's more convenient for you), you'll find comfort in knowing that you're part of group of people who are all doing the same thing - you may be physically separated, but you're not alone. You're together in spirit, participating in a group activity. It'll become a ritual that you'll look forward to each day!
The once-a-week conversation with your Tea-Mate provides the opportunity for you to make a new friend, laugh a little, and simply feel better.
And the three virtual community-wide events bring you together with everyone else in the community - to have fun while learning, creating, and sharing. So that you can flourish and thrive.
Join our University Campus Connector team
Meet Siri, our University Campus Connector Coordinator
Siri is a student at Amherst College, class of ’24, studying Neuroscience and Economics. She joined the For All Ages team in 2021 as the organization’s first university Campus Connector.
As our university Campus Connector Coordinator, Siri is looking forward to helping expand the Campus Connector role to other campuses, further reaching the younger generation and fostering intergenerational connectivity through the Tea @ 3 Community.
Email Siri to ask questions or to learn more about becoming a Campus Connector at your school.
Join our volunteer team!
We are seeking one student attending college at each of the following CT universities* to spread awareness of our Tea @ 3 Community and other volunteer opportunities among fellow students:
- Central CT State University
- Quinnipiac University
- Trinity College
- UConn - Hartford campus
- University of Hartford
- University of St. Joseph
- Wesleyan University
- Yale University
If you are interested in becoming a Campus Connector, please email Deb at deb.bibbins@forallages.org to schedule an interview.
*If you are attending a local college not listed above, contact Deb to talk about whether a campus connector may benefit your school community.
Campus Connector Team
Richa Balamurugan
Richa Balamurugan
Richa Balamurugan
University of Connecticut - Storrs campus
Carissa Daigle
Richa Balamurugan
Richa Balamurugan
Central Connecticut State University
Siri Palreddy
Who will join us next?
Who will join us next?
Amherst College
Who will join us next?
Who will join us next?
Who will join us next?
If you're a college student in CT or nearby, let's chat!
FAQs
When will I receive my welcome kit?
We plan to mail welcome kits via USPS in mid September 2021.
What if I don't like tea?
That's okay! Tea has health benefits and we're providing you a month's supply of tea so that you can try it. But if you decide coffee - or water - is more your thing, that's perfectly fine. The idea is that you take a few minutes for yourself and call a friend or explore other ways to connect socially. And you can still refer to your matched friend as your Tea-Mate, because (s)he really is a teammate.
How many days of the week should I sit down for tea?
That's up to you! We're proposing that Community members enjoy tea 5 days a week, but that's not a requirement - it's simply a recommendation. The more often you do it, the more likely it'll become a habit - and the more health benefits you'll receive!
How do you select my Tea-Mate?
The more information you provide about your interests, the easier it is for us to find your Tea-Mate. Tell us about your interests, whether they be TV shows, sports, music, gardening, travel, reading. etc. Into country music? Cool! UConn basketball fan? Awesome! Tell us what you love and we'll do our best to find you a Tea-Mate with similar interests.
When will I receive my Tea-Mate contact information?
We are pairing Tea-Mates in early September 2021. We want to find you the right Tea-Mate, so please give us some time. We'll email you and your Tea-Mate together in September, introducing you to each other and sharing each other's first names and phone numbers.
What if I'm not available at 3:00 pm?
That's okay! The idea is that you sit down to enjoy a cup of tea in the afternoon knowing that other members of the Tea @ 3 community are doing the same thing. And during your first conversation with your Tea-Mate, you both should agree on the most convenient day and time for your weekly call. It's okay if the conversations occur each week on Tuesdays at 3:00 pm or on Wednesdays at 2:00 pm. Talking with your Tea-Mate each week is a key component of the Tea @ 3 community and so finding the time that works best for both of you is important.
How long should I talk with my Tea-Mate each week?
That is entirely up to you and your Tea-Mate. We believe that a 15-20 minute conversation is an appropriate time to get to know and then catch up with your Tea-Mate each week. Of course, if you'd both like to talk for a longer period of time, that's great, too!
What if I don't like the Tea-Mate you've chosen for me?
We do our best to connect a younger and older adult with similar interests. And we ask that you make a real attempt to make a new friend! That being said, if after 4 conversations it's not working out, simply contact us at deb.bibbins@forallages.org and we'll call you to talk through the situation.
Should I be careful about the information I share?
You should exercise the same care over your privacy as you would in any other person-to-person interaction. Avoid giving any personally identifying information and remember that no Tea-Mate should ever ask for money, ID or credit card information. If (s)he does, please suspend communication and get in touch with us immediately at deb.bibbins@forallages.org.
Is the fall 2021 community limited based on where I live?
If you live in or attend college in CT or at Amherst College in MA, we welcome you to join our fall 2021 Community!
We're excited to be including students from the University of Connecticut, Central Connecticut State University, and Amherst College in the fall 2021 community.
How many people can join the fall 2021 Tea @ 3 community?
We are capping participation at 50 older adults and 50 younger adults.
How long does the Tea @ 3 community last?
The fall 2021 community will last for approx.12 weeks beginning in early September 2021 and continuing through December 1.
After that time, we'll reach out to you to see if you'd like to continue your community participation for another approximate 12-week period beginning in February 2022, and will thereafter offer you future multi-week sessions going forward.