DELANO, CA - Fire destroyed a senior center in Delano Thursday and people who rely on that facility daily have been directed to another location. People who went to the Jefferson Senior Center were moved to the Ellington Senior Center.
The seniors have a new hangout spot for their game of BINGO. They were shocked to wake up Thursday morning and learn their senior was destroyed by fire.
Etheal Pickering said, "You know this morning when I got up, I felt lost. I really did. I felt lost because it's not there."
"I couldn't help but shed some tears for it. It still hurts," said Lena Mae Jones.
Each day, they join their friends at the center for meals, entertainment, and social interaction.
Abraham Jimenez said, "I enjoy getting out. I live alone, with four dogs and I enjoy the comfort and my friends and you know socializing with everybody else there. It's kind of like a home away from home."
Jones said, "We were so used to it. We were like a family. I looked forward to it every day. I went every day."
For now, they are at the Ellington Senior Center. Although they're thankful they have another place to go, they say it's just not the same.
Pickering said, "I just miss just getting up and going over there because I'm used to going over there."
"You're used to one place for 5 years and you feel disposed," said Jimenez.
The Eillington center is now serving almost twice as many seniors as before the fire. It's unclear if that will be a permanent location for people who went to the Jefferson center.
The seniors have a new hangout spot for their game of BINGO. They were shocked to wake up Thursday morning and learn their senior was destroyed by fire.
Etheal Pickering said, "You know this morning when I got up, I felt lost. I really did. I felt lost because it's not there."
"I couldn't help but shed some tears for it. It still hurts," said Lena Mae Jones.
Each day, they join their friends at the center for meals, entertainment, and social interaction.
Abraham Jimenez said, "I enjoy getting out. I live alone, with four dogs and I enjoy the comfort and my friends and you know socializing with everybody else there. It's kind of like a home away from home."
Jones said, "We were so used to it. We were like a family. I looked forward to it every day. I went every day."
For now, they are at the Ellington Senior Center. Although they're thankful they have another place to go, they say it's just not the same.
Pickering said, "I just miss just getting up and going over there because I'm used to going over there."
"You're used to one place for 5 years and you feel disposed," said Jimenez.
The Eillington center is now serving almost twice as many seniors as before the fire. It's unclear if that will be a permanent location for people who went to the Jefferson center.