Love is not in Short Supply

The Senior Center in San Bernardino held their annual Valentine’s Day party on Wednesday, February 12th. The two-hour free event was sponsored by the Dignity Memorial with music, ice cream, cake, and a raffle. About thirty seniors attended, many who have been coming to the hosted events every year. The event started off with three women performing a choreographed dance and would encourage the seniors to join them. Liza Reyes and her dancing partner David Villalobos were the first to join the fun. Reyes stated she decided to come to socialize and knows most of the seniors here. Socializing and enjoying music was a visible favorite amongst the small crowd. Reyes also added, “I use to go to the Sassy Gals Dance School...the more you move the better [it is] for you.” Her dancing partner for the day was David Villalobos. “[Liza] prepares me for dancing,” Villalobos states after coming back from dancing with Reyes. As the hour ensued, ice cream and cake were handed out and soon after a raffle was presented; including small prizes such as craft scissors, valentine's themed lotion and brand name perfume won by Crescencia Bolusan, a long-time visitor to the senior center. “We like fun...every occasion we are here,” she stated. Bolusan and her friend Felisa Mina attended the party together. Both women plan to come again next year and to the other holiday parties the senior center hosts. The center is a visibly proactive center for seniors to engage in various social activities. Ida Flores, the Senior Recreation Leader helped organize and encouraged the seniors to participate during the event. “Many seniors live close [by] and come to enjoy the music while exercising." She also highlights the opportunity to socialize, she continued, "some [seniors] don’t have a car, [are] low income, so they come every day for lunch and activities...sometimes people meet and will end up together.” The senior center is a wonderful example of encouragement towards living a healthy and cheerful life. Flores added, “[The seniors] come here and make life better.”