NEW YORK – The Greek Elder Care Network, a New York-based social impact company dedicated to providing support and resources to the elderly and their families in the Greek-American community, will host Australian Author Sally Jane Smith on September 25 for a virtual discussion of her memoir, ‘Unpacking for Greece’ (Journeys in Pages, June 2023).

Founded in 2021 by Angie Xidias, the mission of the Greek Elder Care Network is “to help provide elder care support, services and resources for the Greek American community.” Because caregiving can be overwhelming and isolating, they strive to offer support for not only the elderly, but also for caregivers and families. Among their programs are a meal plan, community events, and more recently, a book club.

In 2024, they launched the Greek Elder Care Book Club Initiative. This platform connects authors with the group, immersing readers in the captivating world of literature. “Reading is a universal activity that benefits everyone, from older adults to caregivers and teens,” Xidias said. “It provides cognitive stimulation, social interaction, community building, and emotional well-being. It can bring joy, comfort, and inspiration and can also help manage the loss of a loved one. Engaging with literature allows individuals to explore different emotions, perspectives, and life experiences. By creating a space for our diverse members to share experiences and discussions, the book club can enhance our overall quality of life and strengthen our community.”

To-date, the group has hosted in-person book talks with Greek American authors Valerie Nifora and Dino Pavlou. They introduced Unpacking for Greece as their summer reading pick, as well as Smith to members in a virtual event on July 17. “What struck me, in that first conversation with the group, is how quickly we connected,” says Smith. “We may have dialed in from different continents, but we all engaged both with the magnetic quality of Greece as a destination and with the more personal aspects of the story, especially the role played by my mom’s 1978 travel diary.”

Unpacking for Greece, Smith’s first memoir, is a story told with warmth, humor, and a fascination with Greece’s natural and cultural heritage. The author connects with her past, overcomes her fears, and falls in love with life again, “one olive at a time,”

The book has garnered international media coverage and has been a selection in multiple book clubs in the U.S., Dubai, and Australia, including the Hellenic Cultural Society of South Florida and a literary discussion run by the Hellenic American Women’s Council in the Great Lakes region. It was also named a Book of the Month for Greek News Agenda/Reading Greece in 2023.

The book details her solo trek to Greece, which, Smith says, “not only turned me into a writer, but also gave me my kefi back” after her life took some difficult turns.

“We look forward to our book club discussion for Unpacking for Greece by Sally Jane Smith. This book beautifully captures the essence of connections and how important journal writing can be… a topic we explored in our meeting last month,” Xidias said. “For us Greek-Americans, it will be fascinating to see how a tourist connects to our beloved country of Greece in ways that perhaps we see ourselves connect to our roots as well. We will explore these topics in our Book Club discussion next month, and we hope you’ll join us.” The virtual event will take place on Wednesday, September 25 at 7 PM EST. Sign up at https://shorturl.at/rImKX.

A limited number of books are available for purchase through Greek Elder Care Network. Proceeds will help the group continue their work for the community. To learn more about Greek Elder Care Network, the book club, other upcoming events, and how to support them, visit https://greekeldercarenetwork.com/.