For nearly two months, life has looked a little bit different for Lancaster County residents, and that includes individuals served by Friendship Community, 1149 E. Oregon Road, Lititz.
Friendship Community is a faith-based, licensed provider of disability services and has been cultivating the capabilities of intellectually disabled and autistic individuals since 1972. The organization currently serves more than 200 people in various programs, including 27 residential homes, three daytime programs, and those living with their loved ones or independently in Lancaster and Lebanon counties. Friendship employs almost 400 team members whose roles range from direct support professionals and nurses to behavioral specialists and art instructors, as well as a full complement of administrative staff members.
As a result of the shutdown, the day programs - including the Friendship Heart Gallery studio and Meaningful Day Academy - were immediately closed. Instead of Friendship's clients spending time together in one place, each individual had to stay in his or her respective home. This resulted in staff members having to provide around-the-clock care at each home, when they had not previously done that, and that prompted schedule changes, flexibility, and creativity.
Friendship Community also formed an urgent response team to prepare for the possibility of illness. Team members made sure to maintain direct contact with clients, clients' families, and government authorities at all levels, and they also implemented protocols to keep everyone safe. Friendship CEO Gwen Schuit, BSN, M.Ed., NHA, credited two sewing circles - Sewing Hope, a group associated with Worship Center, and Bird-in-Hand Fabric - with providing cloth masks for Friendship's staff members and clients. Schuit noted that while the masks are protective, they pose significant challenges.
"(Some clients) have struggled with team members wearing masks as the masks inhibit visualization of facial expression and can alter verbal communication," Schuit explained. "Furthermore, some individuals have even exhibited new behaviors related to their fears. Team members have needed to utilize new techniques in order to maintain their established trusting relationships with individuals in order to safely wear the masks for any extended period of time."
Following established routines is important for many of Friendship's clients, so staff members sought out ways to alleviate the stress caused by the shutdown's disruption of regular activities. Two parents had a source for iPads, and Friendship was able to obtain enough of the electronic tablets so that every home and support location could have one. The iPads have enabled Friendship clients to regularly connect with family members and friends and to engage in meaningful activities. "The acquisition of these iPads has also enabled the spiritual nurture and community life coordinator to connect individually, provide group prayer meetings, and orchestrate uplifting daily videos and songs," Schuit said.
Friendship Community is a nonprofit organization, and it had scheduled its 17th annual Friendship Heart Gallery art auction on March 26. That event has been rescheduled for Thursday, July 16, and the FEST, Auction, and 5K has been postponed until Saturday, Sept. 26. The golf tournament and anniversary dinner are still slated to run as planned on Thursday, Sept. 10, and Thursday, Oct. 22, respectively.
In the meantime, Schuit invites readers to support Friendship Community in several ways. Prayers for the safety and good health of all team members, their families, and each of the clients they serve are valued. Direct contacts with vendors providing personal protective equipment are also needed. Readers may buy original artwork and items from the Primitives by Kathy Collaborative Collection at http://www.friendshipart.net. Cards of encouragement and gratitude for the staff members may be mailed to Friendship Community, Attn: Becky.
Friendship also accepts donations at http://www.friendshipcommunity.net/donate for the maintenance and renovation of residential homes and other buildings. "We continually strive to maintain state and federal requirements in an updated, warm, and inviting atmosphere," Schuit remarked. "These important day program and residential home improvements, including both internal and external repairs, call for critical community contributions due to the lack of funding for such necessary adjustments."
Anyone interested in providing in-kind donations of goods or services may contact volunteer coordinator Phil Horning at 717-656-2466, ext. 1165, and he will work with the associate director of facility services to prioritize the needs.
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