Dear Mayor Sarno:
During these difficult times of social isolation, Springfield has well over 20,000 seniors who face loneliness, risk of increased blood pressure, strokes and heart issues all due to lack of social activity and connectedness! There are very real and serious consequences to isolation as was evidenced in POW camps. Yet, our seniors are not supposed to be prisoners, but rather, our most treasured citizens!

I implore you to contact the Dept. of Elder Affairs immediately and ask that all Sr. Ctr. staff begins programming on Zoom where seniors can have access to ACTIVITIES (NOT an event) where they see each other and staff, where they can have intergenerational programs, enrichment activities and more - as are provided daily in Chicopee, S, Hadley, and all area Center and have been for MONTHS now!

These could be up and running in less than one week's time if only action was taken. Please help the SRs in Spfld to get what they deserve through the Department of Elder Affairs and strive to meet their basic SOCIAL HUMAN needs!

Not one person on our City Council would take the initiative to address this with the mayor which is very sad.
Most Sincerely,

Laurel Rancitelli