Dear Eden II Friends & Families,
I remember 9/11 as if it were yesterday. One of the things that sticks with me the most is how our staff responded. They were amazing. Many took kids home for a few days as they were unable to get home. At the time, I remember being so proud of the staff and how unbelievable they were. Then we got hit by Superstorm Sandy and once again, the Eden II staff showed us how committed they were to the participants and their families. Well, here we are amidst one of the most unprecedented disasters of our lives. It did not surprise me one bit to see the staff, once again really step up to the plate. Some of these staff were here during 9/11, here during Sandy, and still here, putting our families first.
It is with incredible gratitude that I thank all of you. The Education staff put together distance learning programs in two days for our learners. Our Adult Program staff never wavered when asked to continue to help support those families whose sons and daughters are living at home. Our admin has shown true leadership during this time of chaos, and I can’t say enough about our direct care workers, supporting our residents who live with us. They are true heroes.
I know that the notion that we might have our day programs closed for possibly months is a very frightening thought for many of our families. Please know that we are working to try to come up with better options to help support you. We are somewhat constrained by our funders in terms of options currently but will do our best to keep giving them options to consider.
To all..please stay safe, follow the rules of social distancing and stay in touch. We are here for you.
Sincerely,
Joanne Gerenser, Ph.D.
Executive Director