Your Incredible Neighbors: Musician/program manager making local seniors smile

You may find Green Valley resident Cynthia Fletcher wearing a silly hat shaped like a birthday cake during monthly parties at the senior lunch program at Casa de Esperanza.

Or you may find her dancing with a plastic foam penguin at Casa’s New Year’s Eve party for seniors.

It’s all part of Fletcher’s efforts, as Casa’s senior nutrition program manager, to keep the seniors smiling and laughing at her unexpected, spontaneous antics.

“I love meeting and interacting with my elders, and I love planning surprises for them to bring a smile to their face,” Fletcher says.

On most weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Casa offers lunch, along with before and after activities, to any Pima County resident age 60 or older.

For a $2 donation, the seniors get a balanced meal—generally featuring a hot chicken, beef or ham dish—and a chance to take part in games of bingo, cards, exercise classes, presentations on preventing falls at home and more, Fletcher says.

Included are speakers, entertainment and music, some of the latter from Fletcher herself on the piano or organ.

She plays easy-listening tunes and many oldies, plus she conducts sing-alongs for her seniors.

“Music makes people feel better and makes their day a little brighter,” Fletcher points out.

She explains that the lunch program gives area seniors a place to come to meet friends and new people, helping them avoid social isolation.

Green Valley-based Casa de Esperanza offers health, social and human services to area families, seniors and young people.

Its senior lunch program is funded by Casa, the Pima Council on Aging and Catholic Community Services.

Van service also is available to and from the lunch program, with 24-hour advance notice, for those unable to drive. Donations are welcome.

Casa is always looking for volunteer van drivers, community center food servers and activity helpers, as well as Meals on Wheels drivers, she notes.

Fletcher, 56, grew up in the Midwest and lived in California for 14 years before moving to Green Valley four years ago to assist her parents.

She soon became senior nutrition program manager at Casa and has seen attendance at the lunches increase from about 20 folks a day to between 35 and 50 seniors.

“For some, this is their main meal of the day,” says Fletcher, pointing out that she has seen their health improve thanks to better nutrition and their quality of life rise as a result of the activities offered and friendships made.

“I meet very special people,” Fletcher says. Their average age is 82, and although declines in health are inevitable—and Fletcher must deal with the changes and losses that come with aging—“the benefits are special friendships and insights,” she says.

Fletcher brings to her job experience as an activities director and as a certified nursing assistant.

She also has shared her musical skills as a children’s church minister, in vacation Bible schools, in mission ministries and more. Currently, she is church musician for the Amado Baptist Church.

Fletcher began playing piano at age 8 and first started playing in church when she was in eighth grade.

“I love it,” she says with a smile.

Fletcher also is a Mary Kay independent beauty consultant, and she volunteers for the Joni and Friends Wheels for the World program. That group accepts donations of new or used canes and non-electric wheelchairs, then sends them overseas to those in need.

Fletcher also was active with the Wisconsin Jaycees Club, was regional project manager for the Ronald McDonald House in Wisconsin and was a chairwoman for a local chapter of the Muscular Dystrophy Association in Wisconsin.

“I have diverse interests and try to be creative,” she notes with a smile.

Casa de Esperanza is at 780 S. Park Centre Ave., near the entrance to the La Posada campus. To learn more about the senior lunch program, to schedule van service or to volunteer, phone Fletcher at 625-2273 ext. 814.

kwalenga@gvnews.com | 547-9739