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Annette Darnell, Yadkin Valley Senior Center
Success Story | Annette Darnell was introduced to the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) operated by the Winston-Salem Urban League during one of her visits to the Yadkin Valley Senior Center, located in Jonesville, NC. SCSEP captured her interest after finding out she could gain new skills while subsidizing her income through this paid training program.
After applying to the program, Annette was enrolled and assigned to the very center where she learned about SCSEP to train as a Nutrition Assistant/Receptionist for the Meals on Wheels Program at the center’s nutrition site. Within her training, Annette also learned proper processes to help maintain the cleanliness of the center. By being assigned to a congregate site, Annette said she was able to better herself by developing stronger communication skills and learning to work with a diverse group of people. She added that being in SCSEP helped her to gain confidence and strengthen her self-esteem which she lacked at the time of her enrollment. As part of her training, she also gained experience navigating the computer and perfecting the use other office equipment.
When asked what her greatest achievements have been since being enrolled in SCSEP, Annette said, “I’ve been able to comfort many homebound seniors through phone calls, giving them someone to talk to. However, I must say that making new friends has been my favorite part of being assigned to the senior center.”
As a result of her almost 3 years of training, Annette was able to reach her employment goal by accepting a position with an employer doing what she was trained to do at the senior center. Annette said, “I would recommend SCSEP to anyone interested in improving and gaining new skills. It has been a great opportunity for to better myself and help others. This program helped me to realize that you’re never too old to learn.”