Seniors’ “Sit and Get Fit” Classes Get Rolling!

On a chilly February Thursday morning, a group of almost 30 seniors – some sitting, others standing – moved to the beat of salsa and merengue music during Esperanza’s new “Sit and Get Fit” group exercise class at our Hunting Park gymnasium. The new class is part of our bilingual Esperanza Seniors program that started this past fall, where all seniors age 55 and over are welcome to gather for fun and fellowship each Thursday morning. With Esperanza’s Christe Lee leading the way and demonstrating each move, the group had a great time together throughout the half-hour session, combining stretching exercises to promote flexibility, rhythmic movement and even some dance steps! Said Lucy, one of the participants: “I have had some soreness in my joints, but the exercises really help me to loosen up. I really love the new class — I’ve invited five friends from my church to come along with me!” The classes will continue to be held every Thursday morning at 11 am in Esperanza’s Hunting Park gymnasium, and all seniors 55 and over are welcome!

Dr. Bryan Hollinger Receives Clinical Practice Award from American College of Physicians

Esperanza’s medical director, Bryan Hollinger, MD, MPH was recently honored by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Physicians (PA-ACP) with a Clinical Practice Award. The award “honors Fellows and Masters of the American College of Physicians who demonstrate by their example and conduct an abiding commitment to excellence in medical care, education, research and service to their community, their chapter, and the American College of Physicians.” The award was presented to Dr. Hollinger by Darilyn Moyer, MD, FACP, Professor of Medicine at Temple University School of Medicine and Chair of the Board of Governors of the ACP. 

EHC Volunteer Chaplains – Meeting Spiritual Needs, One Patient and Family at a Time

Our Chaplain team has the opportunity each day to minister to many of our patients during their health center visit…and sometimes, to their family members and to others as well. Esperanza’s chaplain, Rev. Andrés Fajardo and George Hickman, who serves as one of Esperanza’s volunteer chaplains, recently met with a patient from the Dominican Republic named Luisa and her young son. As they spoke with them, they learned that their husband/father was incarcerated in the Philadelphia County jail. Says Andrés: “After I talked with her about the spiritual life, Luisa said that she wanted to put her faith in Christ as her Savior, as did her son – and so we prayed with them towards that end!” During the visit, Andrés and George gave the boy a bilingual book/DVD to help children of incarcerated parents, which was provided by Sandy Veal, Billing Specialist at Esperanza. In addition, Luisa provided Andrés with her husband’s prison address — Andrés later wrote to him, and he and his cell-mate then wrote back, saying they want find a church when they are released. Another volunteer chaplain, Arelis Hernández, who is also from the Dominican Republic, has since called Luisa and invited them to her Spanish-speaking church. As Andrés explained: “This is the kind of team and follow-up ministry that we hope by the grace of God will continue to unfold here at Esperanza.” Thanks for your prayers for Andrés, George, and all of our other chaplains, as they offer spiritual guidance and care to our patients and community members.
Your gift to Esperanza can make a real impact for our patients and community, by supporting our new Seniors’ program, our Volunteer Chaplains as they provide spiritual care, and our dentists and hygienists in providing oral health care for our patients, as well as many other services at Esperanza. Thank you also for your prayers, as we reach out to more people in North Philadelphia who are in need. To make a tax-deductible contribution to support Esperanza, please click here.