Friendship Center in Montecito opens new satellite site in Carpinteria

MONTECITO, Calif. - Nick Narang is a proud senior at the Friendship Center in Montecito.

“I’m playing Kings in the corner … because the king, me is in the corner … that’s the game. We play Kings in the Corner," said Narang.

Narang comes to the Friendship Center five days a week.

"Without them I would be stressed out bored … mental problems," said Narang.

But Narang doesn’t live in Montecito. 

So when he discovered the Friendship Center is opening a new satellite site at the Carpinteria Arts Center, he was thrilled.

“They’re doing it for me … I live in Carpinteria … it’s very close to me … I’ll be going their two days a week … and three days a week over here," said Carpinteria.

Directors of the senior care center hope the new site will help meet the growing the demand for the services.

“The new site is gonna be helpful for all the Latino people too … and it’s a really nice place … and it’s already in the art center in Carpinteria," said DEE and wellness coordinator Deysi Herrera of the Friendship Center.

“We’re doing it because we want to help the community. And we want them to have things to do … not just be wandering around," said community outreach coordinator Adriana Rosales of the Friendship Center.

Right now the friendship center team is hoping seniors in Carpinteria will enroll at their new site.

In 2022, the population for seniors ages 65 to 84 in Carpinteria was just over 20 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

"We have three or four people who come here from Carpinteria but we’re looking to get new members," said Narang.

Starting March 18th, seniors in seniors in Carpinteria will be able to participate in a dementia respite program several times per week and more.

“Because I feel I’ve met friends I’ve met new friends," said Narang.