Generosity: Latham adult resident Stacie M. delivers donated bedding to St. Joseph’s House homeless shelter

In so many ways, Adult Services residents and staff give back to the community through vocational programming. This winter has been especially active for resident Stacie M. from our Turning Mill home. Stacie has been working with Vocational Director Maura Smith to gather donated bedding and blankets for regular deliveries to a local homeless shelter. On a recent Friday afternoon, Stacie and Maura delivered several bags of quilts and sheets to St. Joseph’s House in Hyannis. Stacie is pictured here with Maura (left) and shelter staff member Shauna Kelly Kane (right) who warmly welcomes the donation drop-offs.

Maura said the delivery is one of many she and Stacie have made together as part of a wider commitment by adult residents to volunteer their time to help others. Maura commented, “What I like the most about the volunteers from our Adult Program is how happy they are to help others. They look forward to it and don’t see it as a duty or a chore; they see it as a fun activity.” Volunteerism provides greater opportunities for community inclusion, allows our adult residents to form new relationships, and exemplifies belonging—a value so important to all of us at Latham. Maura added, “Our residents who participate in volunteer activities feel proud that they’re not just receiving – but they are giving back, as responsible, mature adults.”

Adult Services’ efforts have had positive ripple-effects – a colleague from Latham sent along two cases of donated Girl Scout cookies from a Dennis-Yarmouth Junior troop to St. Joseph’s, and Cape Cod Community College Professor Kate Martin coordinated a collection of sheets and blankets which will also be delivered to St. Joseph’s by Stacie and Maura.