b'MAY 2021 La Salas Long-Awaited Return It was a very long and solitary year for Ruben Ramirez and the other long-timers who used to come to Puentes La Sala community dinners twice a week. Puentes oldest program, a social event geared toward single male agricultural workers who live hardworking lives on local farms and ranches, rarely ever cancelled, was among the first to end when the pandemic hit. We were pretty much stuck going from home to work, he says. Puente continued doing outreach at farms and ranches through the community health promoters but the in-person friendly gathering was missed by La Sala participants are welcomed with a farmworkers and Puente staff. Thankfully, La Sala reopenedfestive decor after 14 months of the in May 2021 with balloons, music and a whole new vibe.program being on hold. The revamped program was meant to bring fun activities,Los participantes de La Sala son recibidos con una decoracin festiva despus de 14 workshops and guest speakers into the mix. Were trying tomeses de estar en pausa.make it more fun than how it was before. And I think the guys are pretty happy with it, says Puente Community Resource Navigator Elizabeth Flores. In addition to a delicious homemade meal and strict 57sanitary measures, La Sala now includes karaoke, ocasional dancing, a weekly raffle and guest unduplicatedpresentations on topics from health to climate participantschange. The new, enhanced program has attracted attended La Sala. more people than ever, with weekly attendance kept at 25 due COVID-19 limitations.24'