Pat Esperanza loves Wilson Senior Center
Oxnard—The Wilson Senior Center Featured Senior in November is Pat Esperanza, who took a chance, discovered great friends, hobbies, and a big family, and enjoys a happy and full life.
PAT spent her days alone in her room, listening to music and watching TV.
"After a while, I got very depressed," she said. "My sister said I should volunteer, so I came here. Thanks to her help, I started volunteering."
At her sister's suggestion, Pat discovered the Wilson Senior Center about 9 years ago and started volunteering in the kitchen.
"I went to Adult Ed in Ventura for a long time and wanted to try and decide where to go next," she said. "I decided to go to all the Senior Centers, and since the Wilson Senior Center is the closest to my home, this was the first Senior Center I tried."
She first came to get her taxes done, ran into Cultural and Recreation Services Specialist Fernando Garcia, and asked him if they had volunteers at the Wilson Senior Center.
"Fernando asked when I wanted to start, and a couple of days later, I became a volunteer in the kitchen," Pat said. "I had already been working in a kitchen at my previous job."
She worked in the kitchen for 5.5 years, became a Senior, and discovered the Center's games.
"I started off with the coffee clutch and didn't know what I was going to be doing," she said. "I came, sat down, and started talking with the different Seniors and noticed they were doing Dominoes, Bingo, and whatever else they've been doing. I jumped from table to table and didn't like to stay in one place."
She loves Loteriá, a form of Bingo, which is off and running every morning.
"Somebody brings in the cards, enjoy the game, and then, we have lunch," Pat said. "Everybody gets together, and we try to figure out who will win the game."
She said there are some friendly bets during the game.
"The winner gets the pot, and if there's more than one winner, it's divided equally," she said. "Everybody gets together and really enjoy each other's company."
She said many of her friends have been part of the Wilson Senior Center for many years and said her friend Ginnie is a great pal.
"Gabriel and I take the Access Bus here," Pat said. "Pam, David, Marylou, and Maria, we all get the Access Bus and meet here," Pat said.
Pat said Jessica Serrano introduced the group to search and find papers in Spanish and English to keep everyone happy and their minds engaged.
"We have English search and find, then lunch, and then we have Spanish," she said. "Some people need help and ask where they found a word. We help each other, and it's teamwork."
The group talks throughout the day, and she said they enjoy the sense of community at the Wilson Senior Center.
"New Seniors come in and are incorporated into our programs," she said.
Through friendly conversation, she said they find the common thread which brings the community together.
"Oh, this lady used to be my neighbor," she said about one person she didn't know.
Pat said the Wilson Senior Center is a place to relax, enjoy her friends, and talk.
"I talk, laugh, listen, and feel comfortable here," Pat said.
The Wilson Senior Center is located at 350 North C Street.
