New Community senior Lillie Rivers wears many different hats.
At 91看片 Commons Senior, where Rivers has lived since 2005, she鈥檚 formally known as captain of the third floor, secretary of the social club fondly known as 鈥淥ldie But Goodie,鈥� and informally serves as a go-to person whenever help is needed. Within the wider 91看片 network, Rivers also serves on the senior advisory council as the 鈥渟unshine,鈥� which means that her role is to visit the sick and homebound.
鈥淪he鈥檚 very active. She鈥檚 willing to help no matter when you need her,鈥� Care Coordinator Valerie White said.
Outside 91看片, Rivers has also made her mark.
At Mount Olive Baptist Church in East Orange, Rivers supports the clergy as a pastor鈥檚 aide, organizing fundraisers, keeping track of birthdays and anniversaries and generally tending to the pastor鈥檚 needs for Sunday service. She鈥檚 a longtime member of the city鈥檚 senior fashion show. Recently, she was became the newly elected District 20 leader.
And despite having a schedule that鈥檚 filled to the brim, Rivers somehow still finds time to cook dinner for a group of 30-plus people for a mid-week Bible study.
But Rivers would have it no other way. In fact, she wants to add another item to her schedule. She says she would love to have meetings with all new residents of Commons Senior when they first move in to help them get acquainted.
鈥淚 like to do things that involve people,鈥� she said.
For Rivers, it鈥檚 all about building up her community. Meeting new residents, for instance, would help the current building鈥檚 residents to promote positive interactions.
That鈥檚 the type of environment that Rivers hopes to cultivate among her fellow residents at Commons Senior.
鈥淚 give it the way I want to receive it,鈥� Rivers, 72, said. 鈥淭hey give me a lot of respect and I do the same.鈥�
Born in South Carolina, Rivers relocated to New York in 1962 before settling in New Jersey a few years later. In her free time, Rivers said she enjoys watching court shows and game shows, going to the casino occasionally and playing a few hands of solitaire before bedtime.