Delfina Vargas never missed a Friday at St. Martin de Porres
Senior Center in Alexandria, when an extraordinary minister of holy Communion brought
the Eucharist. In good weather, the 80-year-old Alexandria resident walked from
her condo, where she lives with her husband and daughter, to the senior center
to socialize, play games, join exercise classes and pray. When the pandemic suspended
the program and halted her daily walk to the center, the staff managed to bring
a little piece of the center to her — in the form of personalized activity
kits.
Board games, puzzles, recipes, reading material, a personal
gift and candy were all part of the package the staff dropped off, said her
daughter, Natalia. The Catholic Charities program also delivers toiletries and
clothing, depending on individual needs.
But the special deliveries provide more than just supplies
and a little bit of fun.
Chong Brandenstein nearly cried when staff dropped off an
activity kit at her home. Brandenstein, 90, lives alone and hadn’t seen anyone since
the center closed. She has no family close by, and has only limited contact
with them through phone calls. She said in a phone interview it was hard to
explain just how difficult and lonely it’s been.
Before St. Martin closed March 18, staff sent clients home
with six to nine meals’ worth of shelf-stable food. The center, which provides
activities, breakfast and lunch, has closed in the past for emergencies such as
hurricanes. But how long the pandemic will last is uncertain, so staff doesn’t
know when they’ll be able to reopen the doors.
Though the center has been closed for more than a month now,
the staff of three continues to reach out to 70 seniors by phone, since many don’t
have email. They ask if the seniors need anything, and the staff fields phone
calls, mostly from families with seniors seeking advice or information. They
have distributed 40 cotton masks, provided instruction on making no-sew masks, and
dropped off 30 activity kits.
“They are so happy to see us,” said Anne Coyne, director of
senior services. “When we deliver the kits, they usually meet us at the door or
(we) drop off on the porch.”
But the smiles, and sometimes tears, go both ways.
“There are so many (seniors) who will bring a smile to your
face,” said Coyne, who added most are grateful and “tickled” to receive the support.
Once the crisis is over, Brandenstein is looking forward to being
with people again, and Vargas can’t wait
to resume her walk to the center and its community.
Bartlett can be reached at
Meghan.bartlett@catholicherald.com.