From Curveballs to Meatballs

“Sometimes you just know when an older adult and a volunteer are going to hit it off right away,” says Michael Mullins, Friendly Visiting Coordinator at FriendshipWorks. That was certainly the case for Phillip Kong and David Wieher.

As a coordinator, Michael interviews both older adults and volunteers to match them based on their backgrounds, interests, and personalities. When he learned that Phillip and David share a deep passion for sports, he suspected they’d have plenty to talk about—and he was right.

Phillip discovered FriendshipWorks after moving to Boston for work, hoping to connect with his new community while giving back. Around the same time, David met Michael at a community volunteer fair and decided to give the Friendly Visiting program a try.

One of their most memorable experiences so far was attending the Red Sox 2025 home opener against the St. Louis Cardinals, thanks to a generous donor who gifted tickets to FriendshipWorks. For David, the highlight was the pregame ceremony honoring the 1975 team, which brought out iconic players like Jim Rice and Carl Yastrzemski — heroes he grew up watching. Sharing that moment with Phillip made it even more special.

The two hope to attend more games at Fenway in the future. “Sweet Caroline and the $16 beers are always fun,” David jokes. Their love of baseball extends beyond the major leagues too—they’ve traveled to New Hampshire for a Minor League game and are planning a trip to Worcester to check out the WooSox.

But their friendship goes well beyond baseball. David often brings Phillip to his favorite coffee shops, where their conversations range widely. David asks about Phillip’s medical school applications, while Phillip listens to stories from David’s life — many of which he can relate to.

“Disconnecting from what has changed and focusing on shared experiences really helps us connect,” Phillip reflects. “Material things have changed, but the human experience has not changed that much.”

Their friendship has also encouraged both of them to try new things. Cooking, for example, isn’t something David usually does — but with Phillip, he’s game to experiment. On a recent visit, the two tackled spaghetti and meatballs in David’s kitchen. They learned as they went, helping each other along the way. Conversation flowed easily — sports, NBA trades, recent Sox games—as pots boiled and sauce simmered. David also shared some concerns about cuts to Meals on Wheels and Medicaid, services he and many older adults in Boston rely on. But the focus of the day was friendship: enjoying a home-cooked meal and the shared adventure of making it together.

David likes to joke that Phillip has learned one thing from him: “not to be a Red Sox fan.” For Phillip, though, the lessons run deeper. As he applies to medical school with hopes of becoming a geriatric oncologist, he says he’s learning a lot about the realities older adults face.

“Most importantly, I’ve learned what true friendship means and how to be a good friend,” Phillip says. “I now see how much it matters to reach out to someone—whether you’re seeking connection or wanting to show someone that they matter. It can make a big difference in someone’s life.”

And that, at its heart, is what Friendly Visiting is all about.