WCI has come upon its one year anniversary of the start of the Coronavirus pandemic – COVID-19. On March 17, 2020, WCI closed it’s Day Programs and had all of its Individuals remain 24/7 in their homes. We had never seen or been involved in such a dramatic crisis. It changed our world as we knew it. Governor Baker declared it a State of Emergency in Massachusetts.
WCI changed and reconfigured how its services were constructed and were being delivered to ensure the health and safety of the people that we support in 24 Hour Residential Supports including Daytime hours, Individual Supports, ABI and Shared Living. Our Day program was transformed providing activities that were creative and fun for people in their home.
We especially want to thank our staff who went from working in the Day programs to working in people’s homes. The activities that they provided changed. It also affected how everyone implemented infection control, such as wearing PPE, social distancing and closing down our world as we knew it. The administration and supervisors in the Day Program re-evaluated the activities that were conducted, provided materials and activities to allow everyone to feel active, as if they accomplished something in their home surroundings. Our Clinical and Nursing Support Services changed their method of support as well. Technology became the center of communication, interaction and connection. Services were primarily remote until visitation could occur and the Day Program reopened.
Our staff, Individuals and our family members were so resilient, adapting to the many changes given the virus and stepping up to the challenges that we faced. This was primarily due to the wonderful care, support and meaningful and creative services that our staff provided, while our world turned upside down. Thank you to all of our Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) and Supervisors who gave wholeheartedly of themselves in every way to ensure that people had a rich and meaningful life, adapting to all of the changes.
We want to thank all of our partners, employers and donors for making everything we all did possible:
- Pelmeds – for our Vaccine Clinic and medication distribution;
- The Masons Grant for Technology;
- All of our Donors;
- Market Basket & Home Depot for employing our people throughout the pandemic; and
- Our Staff, our Family members, Board Members and others, specifically the Willfongs, the Parkers, the Shulmans, the Fordhams, Anne Kellogg, Human Rights Committee Member, Michael Sullivan, Treasurer, Devorah Smith, Board Member, Ruth Harutunian, Trustee & former Board Member, to name a few. There probably are others as well providing us with PPE, such as masks, gowns, and other supplies.
With your kindness and support, WCI came together to provide the best services it could during an unprecedented time. We are so grateful!
Nancy Silver Hargreaves, President & CEO