Expressions June 2020

A publication from DePaul Community Resources expressions Volume XIII • Number 1 • June 2020

IN THIS ISSUE: Adapting for Families In Need Support at a Safe Distance Adapting to a New Normal at Harvard Home Compassionate Care No Matter What

depau l c r. o r g 888.233.7285

Opening Doors To Hope & Belonging Since 1977

a lesson from my mom

Our CEO, Amanda Stanley, with her family.

My family is one of more than a million in Virginia trying to keep our children learning without access to traditional classrooms. My mom, a skilled and creative retired teacher, is thankfully willing to help us. Here was our exchange a few weeks ago, after I asked how her time homeschooling my boys had gone: Mom: There were some moments of anguish with the math. They clearly know how to multiply and how to divide. But they do not always know when to use which approach. Me: mm-hmm Mom: I asked them (insert pesky word problem)… Me: (interrupting) Three! The answer is three! Mom: (glaring) I asked them to tell me not what the answer was, but how they would solve the problem: would they use multiplication or division? Me: Oh. And they didn’t know. Mom: Right. We stayed with it. When we split the chicken nuggets at lunch, I asked them to tell me how we would do that problem in math. I told them that sometimes the most important thing isn’t knowing the answer. It’s knowing how to approach the problem.* The most important thing isn’t knowing the answer. It’s knowing how to approach the problem. COVID-19 has introduced more problems than we can count including operational conundrums and interpersonal head-scratchers. Everywhere I look I see evidence of adapting, pivoting, and re-ordering: In our caregivers’ homes, work habits of our front-line staff, outreach of our leadership teams, support of our board, and in the giving patterns of our donors. Everyone, all at once, began carrying the mission differently. We have not known all the answers, but we have known how we will approach the problems that this pandemic has laid in front of us: We will keep safety at the forefront, provide choice whenever we can, and overcommunicate. We will do what is right, even when it is hard, even when it costs us something important, and we will do it together. As our reality has shifted, you have remained steadfast, fueling every video call, late-night decision-making huddle, virtual counseling session, and client visit. You’ve done it in service to the vision we all believe in—a world where everyone has a no-matter-what family. This newsletter is more than an update; it is an expression of our thanks to you for approaching us with generosity and care. With gladness and gratitude,

Amanda Stanley

* The difference between a good teacher and a great teacher—she teaches a life lesson in the middle of math.

grateful for your generosity Silverback Distillery in Afton stepped up to fill a gap during the early days of the pandemic: hand sanitizer. For our young people living independently in apartments, acquiring hand sanitizer was near impossible, but Silverback generously provided them with 4 oz. bottles of coveted antiseptic hand rub, plus a gallon bottle for refills. The generous donation also helped keep our staff who work with these youth safe.

SamMarshall isn’t afraid to recruit friends and family to a worthy cause. After helping Harvard Home, Sam and her team worked together to supply the young people in our Charlottesville and Abingdon Independent Living programs with thoughtfully coordinated COVID-19 care packages. The first week’s care packages included gift cards, games, books, first-aid kits, gadgets, and cleaning supplies. The following week’s care packages included more than 100 food items for each youth—from staples to keep their cabinets stocked to fresh meat, vegetables, spices, and recipe cards to make spaghetti, salads, and other delicious meals. Each package also included notes of encouragement and love to remind the youth they are not alone. The team that made this incredible feat of hope and belonging possible included: Andy and Sally Boardman ; James Boardman , Nikki Yatko , and Peyton Yatko ; Joan Boardman ; Steve Boardman and Leigh‐Anne Vaughn ; Will and Jess Boardman ; Mike O’Brien ; Barbara Catalano ; Kelly Cutillo ; Andrea and Stan Dross ; Justin Dross and Laura Lyons ;

A group of dedicated women in Bedford answered our call for face coverings. Reagan Flaherty Sampson , Allison Overstreet Stronza , Suzanne Warner , Jinger Snapp-Laplace , Bonnie Platt , and Laura Stout got out their sewing machines and handcrafted 100 face coverings for our frontline social workers in less than 24 hours. This generous group of women have sewn thousands of face coverings since the pandemic began and we’re grateful they shared their time and talents with us.

Christy , Ginny , and Lizzie Grubbs ; Liz Harris ; Matt Harris and Erin Hanehan ; Mary Kane ; Dick and Christy Lubeley ; Keith Lubeley and Katherine Lynn ; Brian and Ginny Madigan ; Sam and Irvin Marshall ; Raph and Cat Strumlauf ; Meredith Zirkle ; Raph Strumlauf of Crozet Market in Crozet and Market Street Market in Charlottesville ; Elaine Martin with Blue Cedar Beef in Verona ; and Virginia Davis with Stuarts Draft FarmMarket in Staunton.

Funding the mission is more critical now than ever. The following individuals generously answered our call during the pandemic for financial support and we’re so grateful: Bobbie Aldridge

Katie Henry Kamran and Anna Karbassiyoon Donna Littlepage and Melissa Robinson Laura Lyons J. Irvin and SamMarshall Emily Mayhew Virginia McCabe Warren and Lavonne McPherson Scott and KimMiller Rebecca Noell Allison Overstreet Stronza

Bonnie Platt Anonymous Silverback Distillery Troy and Michelle Smith Jinger Snapp-Laplace Steve and Linda Snead Michael and Mary Staples Laura Stout Eric and Erin Swartley

William and Pat Broderick Chris and Michele Brumfield Brown and Sally Burton Scott and Sharon Conner Cindy Cooper David and Betsy Cossaboon Haden and Julie Dudley Gordon and Susan Ewald Reagan Flaherty Jean Garst Linda Harris

Katherine Fralin Suzanne Warner

Adapting for Families in Need

DePaul caseworkers are now meeting their families in driveways, backyards, and in Kristina and Beth’s case, covered patios. They are working with foster parents tomake sure their foster children understand what’s going on, and understand that no matter what happens, DePaul will be there for them. “DePaul and Janelle have been amazing supports for us. We are receiving great help and feedback, allowing us to just focus on our girls and their needs,” said Kristina. Kristina and Beth’s foster kids are thrilled to see Janelle. They do their very best to keep a safe distance, but still find time to dance around and show off their stuffed animals. It’s easy to see that this is still an adjustment for them, for all our foster families and foster

Janelle Bronniman grabs her notepad and pen, puts on a cloth face covering, and walks toward a patio—the new location for her home visits with foster parents Kristina and Beth. COVID-19 has changed the world we live in, and not surprisingly, the way our foster care program operates. Caseworkers are getting creative with the ways they reach their foster parents and foster youth. Social distancing is extremely important, but so is checking in with foster care youth and parents who have a lot on their plates right now. “Our children and our families need us more now than ever. Because that need is there and our goal is to serve, our treatment foster care workers and families have adapted well to the new normal,” said Trista Thompson, foster care supervisor.

children. But even at a young age, they recognize this is their new normal for now. Like many of her coworkers, Janelle is taking notes and asking questions from a safe distance. She keeps the covering on her face during the whole visit. And this face covering is special; it was made for her by Kristina. It is an act of kindness like this—a foster parent helping her caseworker do her job safely—that perfectly illustrates what we here at DePaul are holding onto during this time. DePaul will always find a way to be there for its families. And our families will always find a way to make us feel appreciated. In this time of great uncertainty, there are no greater gifts than kindness, support, and generosity.

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“ DePaul and Janelle have been amazing supports for us. We are receiving great help and feedback, allowing us to just focus on our girls and their needs. ” KRISTINA

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“ I love being home and it’s been a blessing to have the staff because they are fun. I love all the new activities that we have been doing. ” MICHELLE STOVER

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Adapting to a New Normal at Harvard Home

From scavenger hunts to cookie decorating and all the backyard picnics in between, the ladies who live in DePaul’s Waynesboro group home, HarvardHome, are staying busy. Life for these ladies looks a lot different these days, likemany of our lives do during the COVID-19 pandemic. Harvard Home is adapting. The typical trips and vacations are on hold, doctors appointments and family visits are done virtually, and group home staff are limiting their exposure to the community. But the purpose of HarvardHome has not changed: provide a nurturing, supportive, and empowering environment for individuals with developmental disabilities. “We are still caring for them and giving them independence, just in a different way,” said Rhonda Pryor, the manager of Harvard Home. As thewave of COVID-19 continues to swell, HarvardHome staff are doing their best to keep the ladies informed but not overwhelmed. “You have to focus on the things you can do, not the things you can’t,” said Rhonda. The ladies are trying out new activities and spending more time backyard bonding and front porch sitting. Things are different, but staff say the ladies have adjusted amazingly. “They have been very adaptable. That has made all the difference,” said Rhonda.

While DePaul staff are grateful for the adaptability of the ladies, they are also grateful for the generosity of DePaul’s donors. Long-time donor Sam Marshall, whose sister Victoria Lubeley lives in Harvard Home, invited friends and family to pitch in on an Amazon wish list of activities

for Harvard Home. Within one day the wish list was fulfilled and Sam and her friends and family requested another list for DePaul’s other group home in the Lynchburg area. Each Amazon delivery brings joy and excitement to the ladies at Harvard

Home—it’s something to look forward to. Staff say Sam calls regularly to make sure the home’s needs are met. In these trying times, community support and generosity are more important than ever. “The amount of support we are getting is amazing. We are very thankful for it,” said Rhonda. The world is battling a force unlike anything we’ve seen in recent years. The way we can safely live our lives seems to change every day. But the way we care doesn’t have to. Here at Harvard Home, the ladies are still getting their needs met, still being cared for, still feeling safe and loved. That’s what we must cling to until we fight our way out of this pandemic. “I love being home and it’s been a blessing to have the staff because they are fun. I love all the new activities that we have been doing,” saidMichelle Stover, who lives in Harvard Home.

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At our annual donor appreciation event in early March, we honored the generosity of you—our donors— in person as well as heard from DePaul families and providers about their journeys. The event would not be possible without the generous support of numerous underwriters: Presenting Sponsor: Pinnacle Financial Partners

Visionary Sponsors: Foti, Flynn, Lowen & Co. Marsh & McLennan Agency SEGRA

Supporting Sponsors: American National Bank & Trust Co. Gil Lynch of Davenport & Co. Generation Solutions Sir Speedy Wilbanks Smith &Thomas Asset Management, LLC Woods Rogers PLC

Learn how you are making a difference at DePaul! Join us for our first-ever virtual investor update. Each time you give to DePaul, you invest in hope and belonging. We want to share how your contributions are changing lives and let you know how the organization and those we serve are doing. Mark your calendar for Tuesday, June 30 at 11 a.m. and plan to join from the comfort of your own home for a 45-minute conversation. To register, visit depaulcr.org/investorupdate .

WE NEED YOU NOWMORE THAN EVER, JUST AS OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS US NOW. Please make a special gift today by visiting depaulcr.org/donate or with the enclosed, postage-paid envelope.