Caravan Event Spreads Cheer to Low-Income, Isolated Latinos
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY — Yesterday, the Latino Elder Outreach Network (LEON) surprised 400 isolated seniors in Goleta, Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Isla Visa, Santa Maria, and Lompoc with goodie bags and Valentine’s Day cards to share a message of support during the pandemic. LEON is exploring the expansion of its network to North County and used the opportunity to introduce itself to seniors and organizations in Lompoc and Santa Maria.
“For almost a year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the senior community is more isolated than ever before,” said Co-Chair Marco Quintanar. “The LEON Caravan Event strives to alleviate that isolation, providing the senior community with small gifts, information on resources available for them, and the assurance that we are here to help.”
Volunteers safely delivered goodie bags to seniors that included donated items from local organizations, and information about vital senior services. The event was sponsored by the Area Agency on Aging, Lompoc Valley Medical Center, Mi Vida Mi Voz,, Long-Term Care Ombudsman, a program of Family Service Agency, and Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services.
LEON (Latino Elder Outreach Network) is a volunteer collaboration which seeks to engage and empower the Latino community, and all the senior communities, educating the public about the needs of and resources available for seniors in the County of Santa Barbara. Current membership includes representatives from nonprofit, public and private entities. For more information, visithttps://leonsb.org/member-organizations.