Former Charis Fellowship pastor, Chuck Thornton, who now lives in an Alaskan retirement community, was quoted last week in a Peninsula Clarion (Kenai, Alaska) story about the response of senior citizens to the Coronavirus. A portion of the story appears below. Click here to read the complete article.

Area seniors remain vigilant to new coronavirus threat

A person doesn’t make it past the age of 65 without showing some resiliency. True to form, a group of Kenai senior citizens contacted Monday are taking the proper precautions to avoid contact with the new coronavirus, but they are doing their best to remain positive as changes sweep through their lives. …

Chuck Thornton, 87, and his wife, Janice, 88, have lived at Vintage Pointe for four years and have lived on the central Kenai Peninsula since 1996. The couple lives in a one-bedroom apartment, so Chuck said he can at least have social interaction with his wife. Chuck said he respects the way those who are living at Vintage Pointe alone are giving up all close social interaction for the good of everybody in the building.

Thornton agrees with Terry’s comparison to World War II.

“I can’t recall anything else so close to so many people as to what we’re facing now,” he said.

Thornton also agreed that Vintage Pointe is much different now. He said that a big group used to greet the mailman every day.

“Now there’s very seldom one or possibly two there, and if there are two, they’re 6 feet apart,” Thornton said. “There’s very strong obedience to the directives.”

Chuck and Janice also would go the Kenai Senior Center for daily meals, but now those meals are brought to them by the Kenai Senior Center staff.

“I think the leadership here at the senior center is phenomenal,” Thornton said. “They’ve been working themselves to the bone to ensure seniors in general, and we over here at Vintage Pointe, are well-cared for. They even arranged to bring us groceries if we make up a list.”

Click here to read the complete article.