In April 2020, COVID-19 brought much of Arizona’s economy to a screeching halt. All businesses not deemed “essential” were ordered closed by Arizona’s governor Doug Ducey.
The lockdown continued for nearly two months. When Gov. Ducey finally gave the go ahead to reopen, businesses slowly began the road to recovery. Even those listed as “essential” had a challenge with this economic recovery.
Many small businesses and non-profits in Arizona didn’t survive the lockdown. The businesses that did survive are hanging on as best they can. Copper Area News wanted to give something back to the local business community as a thank you for supporting us through these troubled times. Our newspapers (Copper Basin News, Superior Sun and San Manuel Miner) have been featuring local businesses and non-profits since the beginning of 2021, encouraging our readers to Shop at Home, stay local and support our local businesses. To date, Copper Area News has featured 137 businesses and groups in the Copper Corridor.
As the COVID-19 Pandemic took its toll, businesses, families and even local non-profits had to adjust their strategies to keep their missions moving forward while working through the pandemic. Meetings were moved to Zoom and fundraisers had to become creative as in-person events were not allowed. Senior Centers across the nation, Arizona and in the Copper Corridor were closed to prevent the spread of the virus to our vulnerable populations. As the vaccines became more accessible, and the infection rate started dropping the centers slowly started reopening.
The Kearny Senior Citizens group has been a longstanding foundation of the Copper Basin area. They started meeting in the 1960s and are still going strong more than 50 years later. They currently have 30 members and are looking for more.
The group has only just begun meeting again on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. at Constitution Hall in Kearny.
“We haven’t had a meeting since COVID started,” said President Manuel Carrillo. “Most of our members are fully vaccinated.”
The group hosts activities that bring the elders of the community together. They take seniors to museums, art shows, casino or shopping. They play cards or bingo. During Cleanup Kearny Day, members remove trash along the main streets of the town. They also put together and distribute food boxes during the holidays and host a toy drive for Santa.
“(We have a) monthly potluck the last Wednesday of the month,” Carrillo added.
Peg Middleton and Linda Pacheco join Carrillo as Vice President and Secretary, respectively.
If you’d like to join and live in Kearny or really anywhere in the Copper Basin, please plan to attend the meetings every Wednesday at the Constitution Hall.
Kearny Senior Citizens officers are (from left) Linda Pacheco, Secretary, Manny Carrillo, President and Peg Middleton, Vice President.
Kearny Senior Citizens present at the Feb. 2 meeting are from left (front) Linda Pacheco, Vera Carrillo and David Hamilton, Gwyreene Ward; (back) Gwynette Greenwood, Manny Carrillo, Peg Middleton, Cheryl Gerrard and Larry Gerrard.