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Bringing love and safety to senior citizens.
The San Gabriel Mountain community of Wrightwood, about 85 miles from Los Angeles is home to 4400 residents, about 30% being 65 and older.
Last year, due to heavy snows, for a time many people could not leave their homes, electricity and heating were non-existent and the only groceries were those they had stored.
Some senior citizens, not only in Wrightwood but elsewhere, died from these conditions.
In response, the Wrightwood local elementary school began the "Golden Raccoon" program, the raccoon being the school's mascot.
In this program, school children and their families "adopt" a senior citizen and regularly visit them to have fun together, share meals and to ensure they are safe.
One such senior citizen is Eva Jablonsky, 88 and her mini poodle Missy, adopted by the Zamora family of five children and their parents.
When the Zamora 7-year-old triplets and their 9-year-old brother arrived, Eva's home came alive with their energy and laughter and their hugs.
(Story continues from "Read More")
"I love it, I love it," Eva, a retired L.A. County sheriff's deputy, told The Los Angeles Times.
Because of walking issues, Eva is largely housebound. "I'm a people person and I miss having people in and out of my house."
"She's part of our family now ..." their mother Michelle Zamora remarked. Her kids have their own grandparents, as does Eva have her own grandkids.
But this relationship has its own closeness, between these next-door neighbors.
When it was time for this visit to end, each of the Zamora children gave Eva a big hug.
"Love you," the boys told Eva as they embraced her. "I love you too," she responded. And as they parted company, everyone was already looking forward to their next get-together
Editor's Note:
To learn more, latimes.com/california/story/2024-01-01/facing-extreme-weather-dangerous-loneliness-wrightwood-youth-connect-with-elderly-neighbors
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