.png)
By Esteban Lopez
Members of the South Pasadena community gathered at the Senior Center to accept two meaningful donations on Friday.
Two organizations, the South Pasadena Chinese American Club — who donated 5,000 face shields — and Home Instead Senior Care — who awarded a check for $2,500 for senior meals and COVID programming — were present to support the local hub for the city’s senior citizens, which has struggled to sustain its operations due to the pandemic and has largely relied on the support of others.
“We are frankly floored by how organizations in South Pasadena really step up,” said Mayor Bob Joe during the brief, social-distancing ceremony on Friday, while commending those on staff at the Senior Center for stepping up during trying times. “They go out all the time, whether they’re on Meals on Wheels, or they’re doing pickups and driving out, we want to make sure they’re all right.”
Grace Wu, the Vice President of Operations with the SPCC, explained that “We ordered 5000 face shields so our board decided that we want(ed) to help somehow. We’ve been a service organization for 32 years here, serving South Pasadena, so we wanted to do something for the community. Everyone has safety intended, especially when we’re heading into flu season.”
Greg Sanchez, Director/Owner of Home Instead Senior Care, was on hand to pass off the Founders Award’s novelty-sized check of $2,500 to the Senior Citizens Foundation; William Cullinane, Vice President; Richard Helgeson, Secretary; Mark Langill, Board Member; and Liliana Torres, Senior Center Manager.
According to its website, Home Instead’s mission “is to enhance the lives of aging adults and those who care for them. We fulfill our mission, in part, through our signature program, GIVE65, the first and only crowd-fundraising platform exclusively devoted to raising funds and awareness for programs and services that give seniors hope.”
Overjoyed by the support, Torres reminds everyone not to overlook our seniors who are most at-risk during this pandemic and the staff’s tremendous efforts to assist the elderly community daily.
“Due to the small amount of staffing at the Center, volunteers are utilized for many aspects of the day to day operations,” reads a portion of the Center’s website, which is constantly in need of volunteers, for which you can apply here.
