Dear Friends,
As the year draws to an end and the season is aglow with the warmth of family, good tidings, and a sense of community – we’d like to thank you for your support and encouragement.
In the past year, we’ve seen many children and families impacted by the work of the Partnership.
I’d like to tell you about Lucas, a little boy who spent his first 8 months of life in the hospital.
He came home with no head control, always flat on his back, on a ventilator, and unable to have quality interaction with his family. Then our Capable Kids and Families® program came into the picture, and soon the family was presented with a Tumble Forms Feeder Seat® from our therapeutic equipment lending library. For the first time, Lucas was able to sit up and be with his family, see his surroundings better, get a new perspective, and feel like a part of things going on in his home. He was able to be positioned better so his breathing improved. Mary Fraley, our CKF director, said when Lucas was born, he wasn’t expected to make it – but he has made it, and is a very special part of his family. His mother believes the Capable Kids and Families® program and The Community Partnership is making a huge impact on not only Lucas, but on the entire family.
Another story of success involves a child care provider that our Early Care and Education director, Kathy Taber, visited earlier this year. Right away, Kathy realized that the provider’s classroom had limited books for the children, and made a point to place some engaging and age-appropriate books in the classroom on her next visit. Kathy said that she sat down to read one of the books – Llama Llama Red Pajama – to the children. The provider was so thrilled at the response from the children that she went out and bought more books in that series, as well as other books for her classroom to enjoy. Reading to the children has become a priority, and the provider now understands that she is promoting literacy. Reading is a cornerstone for later success, and having someone read a book to a child is an important start on that child’s literacy journey. We’re proud to be a part of that journey.
This year we’ve seen many young mothers and fathers in our Young Parents program reach education goals, learn new parenting skills, and strengthen relationships with their mentors. We’ve worked alongside youth aging out of foster care as they move out on their own. We’ve celebrated as children have found forever homes because of our Linking Hearts Adoption event, and we’ve been able to help families in urgent need with vouchers from The Community Partnership Resale Shop. There are so many good stories I could share with you this holiday season, but I’ll just end with this – We could not do this work without YOU. You make it happen. You make it all worth it, too, as part of our team.
On behalf of the Partnership board of directors, staff, program participants, and our wonderful volunteers, I want to say THANK YOU. The Community Partnership wishes you a very Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!
Please come visit us in 2016! We would be honored to share more stories with you.
Very sincerely,
Jean Darnell, Executive Director
