Cultivating connections to help seniors and people with disabilities age and thrive at home.
It has been a good summer so far and we are delighted each time we see old friends and new acquaintances in person. We have been walking, excercising, practicing yoga, doing improv, celebrating birthdays, visiting friends in hospitals and assisted living, honoring those that have passed, standing strong for justice and so much more.
Here a some snapshots of summer activities on their way to an album. Stay tuned, more to come.
We’re back in person!
Senior Power’s outdoor event was a big hit, attracting neighbors in the Sunset to enjoy each other’s company once again, plus enjoy the talents of some of our participants.
Old friends who had not seen each other in a year or more bumped elbows and everyone’s eyes conveyed the smiles that masks couldn’t conceal
“It was a homecoming for many Senior Power participants and a tentative step forward into an enveloping community spirit for others,” said Margaret Graf, Senior Power’s fearless leader. “We’re back. We’re stronger than before. We’re together again.”
“Personally, my heart leaped through my ribcage!” she continued. “All thoughts of the past year’s isolation got pushed aside.”
We got to enjoy the beautiful watercolors by James Mao and marvel at succulents that demonstrate the all-too-important resilience we all have inside. Mary Gayle Thomas also shared her affable, personal stories and poems. See more pictures below!
Come to the next community event!
Thursday, May 13
9:00 to 1:00
Sunset Wellness Mercantile
37th Ave between Ortega & Pacheco
Drop-in any time during the above hours and say “hello.”
We’ll be sharing new exhibits and performances by seniors showing their art, music and stories.
You’ll also find Community Living Campaign’s monthly activity calendar for classes and programs you can enjoy by video or phone. And we’ll have more resources on safety and health for seniors, their families and caregivers.
We’re looking for seniors with talents, hobbies and interests to share!
For more info, to participate, to show off your COVID past-time, your passion, your flair and aptitude — be it musical, artistic or craft — email M. Graf at opoygan1@yahoo.com.
The natural-born connector. The person who makes us smile every time we think of her. The person who takes and prints pictures of everyone like they are her family. A font of creativity and enthusiasm.
These were just some of the glowing tributes to Patti Spaniak-Davidson, our departing head of Community Connectors, before she and her husband, Tyler, moved to North Carolina.
“Do we owe it to your new neighbors to warn them their lives are going to grow and change?” Judy Goddess quipped.
Here’s more of what team members and neighbors had to say about Patti:
“Patti’s middle name should be ‘connector.’ She’s a master at connecting people and the services and programs they need. I am so grateful for her help in expanding the Always Active program to the Community Connector sites. I am also thankful that our connection became a special friendship. Keep on connecting, Patti!” — Valorie Villela
“Patti, you have been such an inspiration to me! You are one of those rare people in the world that just exudes love and care and fun and friendship and all the good qualities of a human being! You encourage everyone to be creative, to be free, to express themselves, and you bring out the best in everyone around you. I shall miss you very, very much!” — Juliet Rothman
“Patti has been the faithful angel who comes to my gate each week to deliver my Open Hand meals. She always brightens up my corner of Cayuga Avenue with her outfits that are as vividly colored as a 48-color crayon box.” — Paulann Sternberg
In addition, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors recognized her as a catalyst to connect neighbors and a determined advocate for older adults and people with disabilities. Lauren Chung, staff for Supervisor Ahsha Safai, presented her with an official proclamation declaring March 19 as Patti Spaniak-Davidson Day.
Her team of Community Connectors across the city and the rest of the staff at Community Living Campaign will miss Patti and wish her well on her journey!
Meet the rest of us by coming to some of our activities! You can find our calendar of events here.
Come see, enjoy and learn the hobbies, talents and interests of your senior neighbors, families and friends!
Our partner, Senior Power, is proud to host a free community event soon! We’ll be presenting some of the talents of our active and engaged seniors, including watercolors by James, succulents by Les, and poetry and stories by Mary Gayle. 
So many of us are excited about being able to see each other in person again. This is one way we feel neighbors can gather in a way that’s still safe for everyone.
Date: Thursday, April 8, 2021
Time: 9:00 – 1:00
Location: Sunset Wellness Mercantile, on 37th Ave. between Ortega & Pacheco.
Safety protocols: This event will be held outdoors, in a tent, and abide by all local safety measures (masks, physical distancing, etc.)
Drop-in any time and say hello!
While there, we invite you to:
For future events, we’re looking for seniors with talents, hobbies and interests to share!
For more info, to participate, to show off your COVID past-time, your passion, your flair and aptitude — be it musical, artistic or craft — contact M. Graf for more info: opoygan1@yahoo.com.
For more fun activities and ways to get to know your neighbors, take a look at our calendar of events here.
An extraordinary year called for supersizing an annual holiday tradition. Earlier this month, Community Living Campaign was among the partners that helped distribute more than 5,600 turkeys and full Thanksgiving meals.
“We know there’s food scarcity in the City, and that sometimes, life can get hard,” said the Department of Public Health’s Veronica Shepard, Coordinator of the main event.
She admitted that keeping the volunteers safe in this time of COVID was no easy task, but high priority. For the past six years, San Francisco non-profits and faith leaders have come together to fund and organize this annual effort.
We all demonstrated that “the world is not as awful as it feels right now when we all help one another,” she said.
Volunteers and a coalition of meal program staff gave away the majority of the turkeys at the Cow Palace. Another 600 turkeys and fixings were distributed at the parking lot of Catholic Charities in the OMI with support from Glide.
Deborah Glen, Coordinator of the Community Living Campaign’s OMIHome Grocery Delivery Program, spearheaded the effort in her neighborhood. Chester Williams and crew distributed throughout the Bayview.
“This holiday tradition left volunteers with the knowledge they had brightened the holidays for so many struggling to make ends meet,” said Marie Jobling, CLC’s Executive Director. “A heightened COVID shutdown the day before the scheduled event was a worry. But what else could we do with more than 5,000 turkeys and fixings but find a safe way to deliver them — and we did!”
The San Francisco African-American Faith-Based Coalition and the San Francisco Department of Public Health sponsored the event, with more than 60 diverse collaborating organizations and faith communities delivering to seniors and families in need. Other funders include the Glide Foundation, the Cow Palace, Hellman Foundation, Salesforce, Fivepoint and 15 more donor organizations.
Each year, our Good Neighbor Awards honor some of the dedicated neighbors. They volunteer their time to help seniors and people with disabilities get the resources and support they need to age and thrive in their own homes and neighborhoods. We are delighted to honor Christine as our 2020 Good Neighbor Honoree for Cayuga.
Christine Arenas’ last seven years of retirement have been richer and healthier thanks to activities with us and the relationships she’s built here.
She’s participated in the exercise class three days a week and tried chair yoga, dance classes and Tai Chi. She’s made many good friends and even brought her mother-in-law to join so that the whole family could benefit!
Christine loved learning from real authors and poets in the Litquake classes, In addition, she shared stories with friends in the memoir writing class.
She spent most of her life in this neighborhood — 44 years living in the house her grandparents bought in 1936. In recent years, she’s enjoyed seeing the program grow to include arts and crafts classes, holiday and birthday parties, health and safety classes and field trips.
Members of this community inspire Christine and give her many reasons to show gratitude for having it in her life, especially during this pandemic. And she’s proud to introduce her grandchildren to ways to give to their community and see they get so much in return.
Two of her grandchildren — Sofia, 6, and Ella, 4 — often join the Wednesday Wave parade. They too spread a little joy to those staying at home.
Each year, our Good Neighbor Awards honor some of the dedicated neighbors. They volunteer their time to help seniors and people with disabilities get the resources and support they need to age and thrive in their own homes and neighborhoods. We are delighted to honor David as our 2020 Good Neighbor Honoree for the Vision & Hearing Program.
David Munoz Ventura is the Program Supervisor of the Seismic Safety Outreach Program (SSOP). This program of the Community Youth Center educates San Franciscans in emergency preparedness and response.
For the past four years, David has contributed to SSOP. He developed a new curriculum and works within all of the Community Living Campaign neighborhoods.
With his help, we’ve increased emergency readiness participation for seniors and people with disabilities. He helps people at our neighborhood sites (virtually as well) and community events. In addition, David provides free emergency supplies and information.
Each year, our Good Neighbor Awards honor some of the dedicated neighbors. They volunteer their time to help seniors and people with disabilities get the resources and support they need to age and thrive in their own homes and neighborhoods. We are delighted to honor Faye as our 2020 Good Neighbor Honoree for Midtown Terrace.
Faye Vickroy embraces her leadership skills and always steps up to lead, assist and organize projects. The Midtown Terrace Always Active exercise group knows her well. She helps set up and host a much-appreciated break time every week.
Her enthusiasm and energy are genuine and reflect her kindness and generosity. Faye’s dedication to making Midtown Terrace a welcoming space shows up in many ways. Mostly, being a good neighbor is the little things: bringing flowers or lemons to some neighbors or taking dinners to sick individuals.
Her involvement in her community includes many years as a school administrator for SFUSD. In addition, she served as an officer of the Saint Emydius Fil-Am Club — all while raising four children as military wife.
Each year, our Good Neighbor Awards honor some of the dedicated neighbors who volunteer their time to help seniors and people with disabilities get the resources and support they need to age and thrive in their own homes and neighborhoods. We are delighted to honor Jim as our 2020 Good Neighbor Honoree for Potrero Hill.
Jim Wachob stepped right up when we started our new Connector Network in Potrero Hill at the beginning of this year. He eagerly joined our Advisory Committee and volunteered to help in any way he could.
Then the pandemic hit, which stopped our program in its tracks. But that didn’t stop Jim. He’s been our main volunteer on the ground during the pandemic, delivering frozen meals to Potrero Hill seniors whose lunch site at the Neighborhood House was closed down.
We know we can rely on Jim to coordinate with the residents, pick up the food and take care of all the details. We are lucky to have him as a volunteer, and the Potrero community is lucky to have him as a neighbor.
