It’s 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning when Carolina Marin pulls into The Second Mile Club in her ‘limousine’, a recently acquired motorized scooter. “I’m the newspaper lady,” she says cheerfully depositing a bundle of papers on the nearby table, “I bring it every day."
Watching the warm greeting between Carolina and Matt Langdon, the Branch’s Program Coordinator at Kensington Gardens, it’s evident that she feels at home here. Carolina has been a member at The Club for 16 years, and actively participates in caricature drawing, crocheting, knitting, computer classes and Mahjong. Like clockwork, Carolina visits every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
On Wednesdays, she has in-home support provided through The Club’s Community Support Services and Community Care Access Centre. They help her with cleaning and household tasks.
Support and a change of scenery
Emigrating from Romania in 1977, Carolina worked hard to learn English. After she retired, she noticed her and her husband were speaking to each other largely in their native Romanian. Feeling her language skills were suffering, Carolina was motivated to find opportunities to maintain her English, socialize and meet new people.
As luck would have it, a resident in Carolina’s apartment building attended The Second Mile Club’s Day Program at 192 Carlton St., and introduced her to The Club’s programming, which includes activities offered at five senior recreation centres, congregate dining, and community and caregiver support services.
After her husband passed away, Carolina felt it was especially important that she continue to stay involved with The Club. She notes that it would be easy for her to stay at home with her black cat Sheena, but the change of scenery and the social support are very helpful. The Second Mile Club allows Carolina to maintain the independence she values, while being an active member of a supportive community.
“I feel like I belong here,” Carolina says with a smile, “Everybody is nice."
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