Fred Townsend turned 81 in the middle of the global pandemic. A New Mexico native and Vietnam War veteran, Fred settled in San Francisco in 1996, and has plans to travel again after the pandemic is over, though his disability could make that difficult. “Well, traveling in a wheelchair is very limiting,” he says, “but … Continued
“I do drawings in my apartment now to stay occupied.” Ira, 78, arrived in Richmond, California, in the late 60s. He is a self-taught artist who splits his time between the Dr. George W. Davis Senior Center in San Francisco’s Bayview District, where he’s known as a pool shark, and his art studio, where he … Continued
“[I find] strength in family, calling family, and my godchild.” After watching her mother “give up” in her later years, Gwen Thomas, 74, knew that she would not let COVID-19 get the best of her. An active, community-minded go-getter who works primarily in and around Visitacion Valley, San Francisco, with the Felton Institute, Gwen’s life … Continued
“He has been a gift from God” Metta Fund met Marie Luna last fall in her kitchen in downtown San Francisco, as she was scheduled to meet Timothy, her partner from Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly, a program that brings people together and offers “a life-enriching experience to young and old alike” by matchmaking … Continued
“I continue to do what I’ve been doing for years, and that is to help Mother Nature in any way I can.” Marlene Tran, 73, is a force of nature. She’s been a staple in the Visitacion Valley community for decades. In the 1980s, when Vis Valley was known as the “Forgotten Valley,” Marlene worked … Continued