JABA

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Participants reflect on JABA's annual Fall Ball

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS 19 NEWS) -- The United Way of Charlottesville held its 33rd Annual United Way Day of Caring, a community-wide day of service.

JABA’s Annual Fall Ball was one of today’s volunteer events with Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital.

“It made my day. I live alone and sometimes it gets kind of lonesome and stuff, and coming to something like this makes my day for me,” said Cathy Musselman, a member at Mary Williams Senior Center.

It's also a big day for the people behind the event.

“This day just brings so much joy, and for many of our seniors, there’s not a lot of joy in their life. They’re struggling to make ends meet, and some of their friends aren’t around or their families moved away," said Marta Keane, CEO of JABA. "To have a day like this and days that are joyful really changes their health — their cognitive, emotional, and physical health — to not be isolated.”

At 92 years old, Cathy still remembers the days she was a roller-skating dancer with her husband, and today she rolled back the years.

“When she asked me to dance, I said okay, I’ll just do whatever you tell me to do,” said Laura Salvatierra, a volunteer with Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital.

At the end of the day, Cathy Musselman's dance moves led to her being crowned as the queen of the ball.