El Dorado program gets special surprise from El Centro staff

Nelly Davila, El Centro de Servicios Sociales Inc.’s case manager for the El Dorado senior program, said she noticed members of the program feeling the affects of isolation over the past few weeks.

To show 30 seniors the organization is still thinking of them, El Centro staff and volunteers showed up June 14 for a caravana to stop by their houses and give a socially distanced greeting.

Davila said although she has been keeping in touch with the program’s members and sending monthly food boxes since the stayat-home order in March, many lack computers at home to make communication a bit easier.

“They understand the need to be home, especially since they’re at higher risk,” she said.

Normally, the program picks up participants from their homes every week for El Dorado, bringing them to the organization at 2800 Pearl Ave. in Lorain for much-needed socialization and to play games such as dominos and bingo.

For many, the program acts as the only time of the week they are able to get out and see other people.

“For a lot of them, this is the highlight of their week in normal circumstances,” Davila said.

El Dorado’s population also faces other challenges that can make feelings of isolation worse, such as language barriers, lack of transportation and limited

financial resources.

Not only have the program’s seniors felt isolated from the program, the novel coronavirus also has kept them from family and other means of support, according to Davila.

With those compounding factors, the El Centro staff took to brainstorming and putting the caravana together to show members they still were thinking of them.

Staff decorated their cars with colorful balloons and signs, some saying “Los amamos,” “You are special” and “Los extrañamos mucho,” with others doting messages to specific program members.

Davila said she hopes the caravana lifted the members’ spirits.

“They’re hungry for that personal interaction,” she said, adding that the lack of personal touch has also affected the members.

“That’s part of our culture as well: the hugging and the affirmation.”

El Centro de Servicios Sociales Inc. staff and volunteers tape balloons and signs to their cars before the organization’s caravana June 14, which visited the El Dorado senior program members.

PHOTOS BY JORDANA JOY - THE MORNING JOURNAL El Centro de Servicios Sociales Inc. staff and volunteers parade the streets of Lorain with balloons and signs taped to their cars for the organization’s caravana June 14, which visited the El Dorado senior program members.

El Centro de Servicios Sociales, Inc. staff and volunteers tape balloons and signs to their cars before the organization’s caravana June 14, which visited the El Dorado senior program members.