Page 18 - Demo

Sunday, April 27, 2025 | Special Advertising Section 18Multicultural community mealsChanda lives alone, struggling to prepare meals for herself. She oftenfinds herself hungry and lonely. On her first night at SPSC, that begins tochange. At the door, she is welcomed and handed a name tag. She takes aseat at a roundtable, surrounded by other seniors. When an SPSC volunteer brings her a beautifully plated dish %u2014Cambodian chili chicken, a meal fromher childhood, the benefit goes beyondnourishment. With each bite, familiarflavors and comforting conversationfill the evening. For the first time in along time, Chanda feels full %u2014 not justfrom the meal but from the warmth of community. She says she feels a senseof belonging.Each year, SPSC serves 10,300+culturally authentic, nutritious mealsto hundreds of seniors like Chanda. Chanda says, %u201cVisiting and making newfriends, plus the excellent food, hasenriched my life more than I can say %u2014I didn%u2019t realize how lonely I was.%u201d Multilingual social services When Tom%u00e3s came to SPSC, hefaced eviction and needed Spanishtranslation support to navigate thehousing and legal systems. Relyingon a walker and the help of a friend,he arrived seeking guidance during adifficult time. During his first visit, staff quicklynoticed another challenge %u2014 Tom%u00e3s%u2019 vision. He shared that poor medicalcare had left him without the glasses he needed, and without insurance, hecouldn%u2019t afford a new pair. The SPSCteam connected Tom%u00e3s with vitalresources and secured him an eyeappointment. When he returned for hisnext visit, he had a new pair of glassesand a cane %u2014 transforming his mobilityand restoring his independence.While Tom%u00e3s was eventually evicted,with continuing support he hasreceived help finding food and shelterwith a path toward being rehoused andhe now regularly participates in SPSC%u2019smeals and programs.Enrichment activitiesLinh struggled with depression andisolation. Her days were sedentary andshe lacked the motivation to engagewith the world. But everything changed when she learned about SPSC%u2019s array of activities, including Zumbaclasses. One of Linh%u2019s greatest joys SPONSORED CONTENTPROVIDED BY SOUTH PARK SENIOR CITIZENSAn estimated 5,372 seniors are experiencing poverty in south Seattle%u2014 monthly rents far surpass fixedand limited incomes, while 7% to 11%of people are living with untreatedillnesses or insurmountable medicaldebt due to a lack of health carecoverage (U.S. Census Bureau). Food insecurity is also prevalent in southSeattle, with the neighborhoodsof South Park and Georgetownexperiencing a 26.7% food insecurityrate, the highest in all of King County, with seniors of color being the mostimpacted, according to King County%u2019s communitiescount.org.Ensuring these residents have accessto culturally relevant meals, socialservices in their native language anda variety of activities to encouragefitness, learning and social interactioncreates communities where older residents thrive. Making many of these connections, South Park SeniorCitizens is helping seniors live theirfinal years to the fullest extent possible. Every year, 580 seniors, who areprimarily immigrants, refugees andpersons of color, living in 60 different ZIP codes, engage in SPSC%u2019s lifechanging programs and services. Seniors thrive with multicultural meals and servicesSouth Park Senior Citizens%u2019 vision is for seniors to haveaccess to services and the culturalcommunity needed to leadvibrant, healthy, independent lives. SPSC relies on the generosity of volunteers and donors. Learn howto get involved at spseniors.org.Through movement, laughter and music, Linh has rediscovered a zest for life. (South Park Senior Citizens)Ensuring access to culturally relevant meals, social services in their native language and a variety of activities to encourage fitness, learning and social interaction creates communities where older residents thrive. (South Park Senior Citizens)is dancing. What started as a simpleactivity quickly became a source ofenergy and strength, improving herphysical health and lifting her spirits.Through movement, laughter andmusic, Linh has rediscovered a zest forlife. She made friends at game nights,enjoyed dancing after dinner, and evenattended SPSC%u2019s Vietnamese LunarNew Year celebration, where she sawher cultural traditions honored.Annually, SPSC facilitates more than 470 opportunities for fitness,learning and social connection to helpseniors like Linh. Beyond the activities, the sense of belonging that comes from joining in creates the sense ofcommunity many seniors like Linh are missing. She has formed meaningfulfriendships and found comfort inshared experiences, easing theloneliness that often comes with aging.