Greetings Everyone,
We entered a new year Friday as the Ball dropped in New York, no matter how you and your family decided to welcome 2021. I have celebrated each new year as long as I can remember. My parents would let me go out on the front porch, bang two cooking pans together and yell as loud as I could “Happy New Year.” I am much quieter these days. To be honest with you, I cannot wait until Friday at midnight, to bring in 2021. I have done my best put aside this past year which has been a whirlwind. The worst part for me as the pandemic came, was that it forced me to prioritize differently in my mind, what was needed today, this week and, on a good day, next Monday. My amazing team excels at that. Everyone has stepped up and shown their true dedication to serving our senior clients from the beginning.
We developed new ways to protect our clients and their needs in 2020.
Caring Connections, volunteers call on our clients that need to stay home, receiving a friendly call A few times a week is a small way to keep them connected. Remember only 30% of our clients have family in the county
We have partnered with the Northern Indiana Food Bank to distribute food on a monthly to those clients that need to eat properly, but, at the same time, can’t get out to the store.
Grocery Shopping, we have volunteers that will take a client’s list, shop for them and then deliver their groceries to them.
I know that this COVID monster will be with us for a while, but I’m seeing the clouds parting with a sliver of light. This past Tuesday, when our Agency was called to get in line for the COVID Vaccine, I made my appointment and made sure I will be a little more protected as I interact with our own HEROES: our Drivers and Caregivers, in-office staff, intern, volunteers and Board.
We all need to keep doing our part to make sure everyone we cater to, as well as our entire TEAM, stays with the plans and procedures for the long term. If we keep following guidelines and precautions, we can get back to the important work that we need to do for the long term of our clients and our Agency. There is not too much dust our “Vision Board” and we can’t wait to progress in 2021.
And on that note, I would like to announce that we were voted the 2020 Favorite Local Charity through the Annual Elkhart Truth County Rankings! That was a nice Christmas gift and we couldn’t have done it without your help and support. Remember last season, while COVID was trying, in all of its will to hold us down, we celebrated our best year ever in serving the number of clients. This season looks like it is going to be even better in terms of activity!
Have a safe, Happy and Blessed New Year!
Sincerely,
David M. Toney, CEO