“Loretta Whitlow has been the director of the Silver Creek Senior Center since May 2008, and in that time she has shown outstanding service to the center and the seniors of the Snowflake-Taylor area,” said Snowflake Mayor Kelly Willis as he honored Whitlow at the June 28 council meeting.
Prior to her tenure as center director, the home delivered meal program was adequate, but as she served, the recipients received carefully prepared meals delivered by trained, dedicated volunteers who have the best interests of the seniors as a priority. It was noted that most volunteers pay their own expenses. Whitlow adds special treats on holidays and birthdays.
Meals are prepared Monday through Friday for local seniors, who often stay to play games.
“Loretta is instrumental in making all feel welcome and they always return,” said Mayor Willis.
Whitlow and her staff have set up a program with the food bank and the Boy Scouts in the area who collect food that will feed hundreds of families that might otherwise go hungry. She has worked with local businesses to develop programs for seniors, specifically a program with Silver Creek Pharmacy under which prescriptions are picked up by center staff or volunteers and delivered with the meals on wheels. Volunteer drivers also take seniors shopping, to doctor visits and even to the beauty shop.
“The job as director is not 40 hours a week, it’s normally 50-plus hours a week, including Saturday,” said Mayor Willis, reading from a letter submitted by senior center volunteers. “There are many accolades that we can bestow on Loretta, one that comes to mind is her uncanny ability to size up someone in conversation and know that they are in need and attend to that need before they leave the center.”
“We are all better people for knowing Loretta, and the senior center is certainly a benefactor,” said the mayor.
Many seniors and volunteers attended the meeting in support of Whitlow, and she thanked everyone, stating, “Yes, it’s a lot of hours, because as you can see, we’ve got some beautiful people here. Improving their lives was a thrill.”
The senior center served 18,362 meals in the past 11 months, delivered 7,890 meals to homes and 10,472 meals through the food bank.
Cindy Schreiber told council members that the senior center has not had to raise the price of meals for three years, explaining, “all the years the seniors haven’t had a raise in Social Security … We are asking when you go to budget, please continue to support us.”
Schreiber said the center is at the point that they will need to make some decisions. “We want to ensure that they have the meals that they need,” she said, but acknowledged times are difficult.
Several present expressed the need for the senior center and their appreciation of Whitlow.
Whitlow introduced Marilyn Radke, who is taking over the director’s position. She has been working with Whitlow for the past month. She came from Wisconsin and has been in Arizona for 13 years, including three years living east of Snowflake.
“I hope you find a lot of joy in serving there,” said Mayor Willis.
Byline by Naomi Hatch
Loretta Whitlow (left) is retiring as director of the Silver Creek Senior Center and Marilyn Radke (right) will take over the post.
