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90-year-old Milwaukee woman grateful for community center during COVID-19

Posted at 1:35 PM, Jun 17, 2020
and last updated 2020-06-17 14:35:27-04

MILWAUKEE -- — Maria Guajardo only speaks a little English, so for our virtual interview, her daughter, Annie Villa, did the translating.

"Me ha ayudado mucho," Guajardo said.

"It has helped me a lot," Villa translated.

Guajardo said she's grateful she's still receiving fresh meals from Milwaukee's United Community Center, despite COVID-19 closing many of its in-person programs.

"She really is watching out the window to see the UCC van come through. It really is a highlight of her day," Villa said.
Guajardo misses the interaction she had with other seniors at UCC's Adult Day Center.

"It's not only something to do during the day but it's something that provides them with friendship and relationships and care," said Emma Koenig with UCC.
Koenig says since so many people depend on the program, they were committed to keeping it running. So for the meals, UCC began delivering them, and to help members who might feel isolated during the pandemic, staff started calling seniors to check in on them.

"We were like cut off from people right, but when they started to call us it really made a difference because we had the connection back with UCC," said Villa.

If you want more information about UCCand its elderly care centers, call 414-384-3100 ext. 2847.

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