by Dan Esdale | May 29, 2020 | Community Support
The Durkin Foundation Donates $4,000 Worth of Market Basket Gift Cards to the LifeLinks CLASS Family Support Center
LifeLinks CLASS was overwhelmed with joy to be a designated beneficiary of The Durkin Foundation’s “Durkin Delivers” campaign, receiving $4,000 in Market Basket gift cards last week that will be disseminated to families in need by the LifeLinks CLASS Family Support Center.
“The past two months have been an incredibly stressful time for all of us in the community, but the families who we support have really been hit hardest, “ says Kelly Trickett, executive director of the Family Support Center. “These $100 Market Basket gift cards couldn’t come at a better time, and I can’t think of anyone who will appreciate it more than the families we are supporting.”
The executive director of The Durkin Foundation, Matt Durkin, is a fierce advocate for the intellectually and developmentally disabled in Greater Lowell. At the onset of the “Durkin Delivers” campaign, he attended a Zoom meeting with Trickett and LifeLinks CLASS Director of Residential Services Angie Otieno to hear more about the work LifeLinks CLASS is doing this challenging time.
“Connecting with Angie and Kelly was so important to me, as I want to understand all the ways that The Durkin Foundation can help organizations like LifeLinks CLASS who are delivering critical supports to our most vulnerable population during this time of need,” said Durkin. “We’re thrilled to announce the gift to LifeLinks CLASS, and it was really a no-brainer to make them a beneficiary of the campaign.”
Durkin also touched on the impact to area small businesses as part of this fundraising campaign. “We heard over and over again from advocates that gift cards to restaurants and grocery stores will go a long way right now, and these gift cards are helping out those business owners as well.”
The LifeLinks CLASS Family Support Center works with more 300 families throughout Greater Lowell and Greater Lawrence, providing individualized services to families who have an intellectually or developmentally disabled individual living at home with them.
“Over the past two months, we’ve actually been able to increase our engagement with families in the community,” said Trickett. “We’ve pivoted to providing daily virtual supports and activities, ranging from online yoga classes and art classes to check-ins via Zoom.”
by Dan Esdale | May 15, 2020 | COVID-19
LifeLinks CLASS was overjoyed to receive a donation of 400 masks this week from the East Garden Church in Beijing, China, and house church in Wenzhou, China.
As we work diligently to procure highly sought after personal protective equipment (PPE), donations like these are critical to ensure the health and safety of essential direct support professionals and the individuals in the community who they support.
The donation was arranged by Bill Haddad, a member of the LifeLinks CLASS board of directors who has been actively involved in the organization.
“Every little bit counts, and when I heard that the church was looking to donate masks to worthy organizations I was pleased to connect them to LifeLinks CLASS,” says Haddad. “The team is doing tremendous work under extraordinary circumstances.”
LifeLinks CLASS also worked to procure a shipment of PPE that arrived this week, and staff in Chelmsford facilitated the distribution of supplies to other human services agencies in the state.
“It’s wonderful to see the community support each other during our time of need,” commented CEO Jean Phelps. “One of the core LifeLinks CLASS values is community, and it’s wonderful to see our staff and Board members modeling that value.”
by Dan Esdale | May 13, 2020 | National Nurses Week
Nurses’ Week took on a very special meaning this year at LifeLinks CLASS, as the community bands together to flatten the coronavirus curve. Individuals in our group homes, along with staff, had a very special message to share with our nurses.
by Dan Esdale | Jan 1, 2020 | Education
“What motivated you to pursue a career in human services?”
“Who are the people you work with at LifeLinks CLASS?”
“What do I need to do pursue a career in this field?”
Questions like this were the norm on November 7, when members of the LifeLinks CLASS team met with students at Northern Essex Community College in an engaging back-and-forth experiential learning activity. Senior Director of Operations John Whittemore, Director of Residential Services Angie Otieno, and Chief Marketing Officer Dan Esdale were invited by Professor Lisa Fabbri Lopez to be guest presenters in her Community Resources and Client Populations class at the college’s Haverhill campus.
“This field is all about people – whether it’s the people who utilize our services or the people who work in the field,” said Whittemore about his class visit. “It’s really one of the most rewarding careers anyone can have – where you know at the end of the day you’ve made a difference – and sharing that aspect of my career is something I’m fortunate to be able to do!” Whittemore has spent his entire professional career in human services, spanning nearly 20 years.
Students in the program pursue a range of human services disciplines, including social work, mental health and developmental disability services, addiction treatment, and elderly care. They are pursuing certificates and associate’s degrees at the school which enrolls nearly 7,000 full- and part-time students.
“Recruiting talented and dedicated people to join this field is a priority, and it’s wonderful to spend time with the future leaders who will be undertaking this important work,” said Otieno who is in her 15th year with LifeLinks CLASS.
Esdale, who joined LifeLinks CLASS this year after serving as chief marketing officer for Suffolk University, also spent time at Merrimack College, addressing students in Professor Michaele Morrow’s Intro to Business 1100 class in the Girard School of Business.
“Spending time in a classroom with students from the community is so motivating for any professional, and particularly rewarding for students to gain perspective from people in the field,” said Esdale. “My message is a simple one: follow your passion – it’s what brought me to LifeLinks CLASS.”
You can learn more about the human services programs at Northern Essex Community College at https://www.necc.mass.edu/learn/credit-programs/human-services/
