Santa Maria Wisdom Center Gets Helping Hand

Altrusa International Inc., of the Central Coast, recently lent a generous helping hand to the Santa Maria Wisdom Center!  On October 28, 2006 its dedicated members repainted the facility's walls.  They also cleaned the center's chairs, adding cushions with anti-skid bottoms to them.

Altrusa hosts fund-raisers to pay for furniture and services to local organizations.  Fortunately, it chose to help Santa Maria Wisdom Center, an adult day health care facility created by Life Steps Foundation, Inc.  The center provides a haven for the elderly, for Alzheimer's sufferers and for adults who have disabilities.

Altrusa members also delivered a new couch to the center, replacing an old one in the center's activity room.  Rene Lloyd, SMWC activity coordinator, praised Altrusa for its time and generosity.  "We're always happy to take donations," she said.

The donations mean a lot to the center's participants.  Monday through Friday, usually for four or five hours, up to 50 people — mostly senior citizens — play games, listen to music and form friendships.  Socialization helps keep them active, which promotes their health and longevity.  But the Wisdom Center, like most programs created and operated by nonprofit organizations like Life Steps, almost always has to operate on a shoestring budget.  So Altrusa's donation makes a big difference.

Said Ms. Lloyd, "It means everything.  It brightens [the center] up.  Our participants really appreciate that."