Dear Families/Guardians/Friends,
I share the message below from the They Deserve More coalition and hope everyone will take action by taking the time to write to share how important DSPs (Direct Service Providers) are to your family member. It might be the easiest letter you are ever asked to write as we all know how important they are here at Misericordia.
We are sending you this survey to help us roll out Candy Days 2024. After being absent from view for the past four years, we will once again give witness to the city of Chicago and suburbs by our presence in front of storefronts, train stations, banks, schools, churches, etc., but NOT on the streets and NOT in traffic.
We will be redefining the roll of coordinator and volunteer. The real success of our Candy Days fundraiser will be online giving and setting up a fundraising page, but it will be equally important to show our belief in the mission of Misericordia out in the community. We would hope that to the best of your ability, you will commit to helping on Friday (April 26) and Saturday (April 27) of Candy Days.
Please take a few minutes to answer the survey questions by clicking on the link below. Please click the submit button when you are finished. We would like all surveys to be completed on or before February 1st.
Dear Families and Friends,
Each year the Misericordia Family Association (MFA) needs volunteers for the Benefit committees, MFA Board, and other projects. We want all MFA families and friends to have an opportunity to participate, share their ideas, and contribute to the betterment of our community. By volunteering, you can help further the mission of Misericordia to provide lives of dignity to all of our residents.
Please fill out this quick survey to give us an idea what skills and experience you have and what you might like to do. This is just an interest survey, not a commitment to take on a specific job. Your responses will be shared with committee chairs and others, and you will be contacted when positions open which might fit your interests and abilities.
Click here to fill out the survey. Please respond by 1/29/2024. Also, let us know if you would like more information about any position or if you have any other questions.
by Barb Quaintance
Misericordia asked. Families and staff responded.
Misericordia asked families and staff to donate coats, hats, gloves and warm clothes for the many migrant families who have come to Chicago. The response was overwhelming. Beginning just before Thanksgiving, hundreds of items of clothing were donated; in fact, an entire semi-trailer was filled to the brim.
Kathy Morris of the Ministry department spearheaded the big task of sorting the clothing and organizing the donations for community organizations. Residents from The Village and CILAs helped with the clothing sorting. Three days a week, for about ninety minutes each day, 6-8 residents sorted and folded the clothing, made sure mittens and gloves had matches, and checked the coats to be sure the zippers worked. It was a great experience for the residents and they took great pride in helping our new migrant neighbors. Clothing was donated to the City of Chicago, Rogers Park Refugee Program, Ignatian Mission Center and Something Good in Englewood. Because of the overwhelming response, Misericordia cannot accept any more clothing - but the sorting continues!
Are you curious about what your fellow MFA members would like our Benefit to become? A few weeks ago, the MFA sent a survey concerning the annual Benefit to members.
Please keep in mind that planning for Benefit 2024 was well underway when we received your feedback, but our team is working hard to incorporate your wishes for 2024 and to shake up the Benefit for 2025. Take a look!
Click here to see the survey results.
Deborah and Scott Early, MFA Chairs
If you missed it or would like to watch it again, click play and enjoy!
by Barb Quaintance
We know that family members, friends, and Misericordia supporters volunteer during the holidays. The bakery, the brunches, and the gift shops are only possible because of these many volunteers. But there are other volunteers who have a regular ‘gig’: a volunteer job that they take on throughout the year. Here are the stories of two of them:
Jonathan Utley’s son, Gideon, lives in Marian Center. In 2001, when Gideon moved to campus, Jonathan volunteered at the Bakery during the busy Christmas season. And the rest is history. Jonathan became a regular volunteer in the Bakery; at first, doing whatever volunteer job was needed, but then becoming the lead on the gift box program. About twelve years ago, Jonathan took on a very big task: organizing the Farmers Market program. Today, Misericordia volunteers staff the Farmers Markets at both Daley Plaza (Thursdays) and in Evanston (Saturdays) for six months each year. The markets have been a great success. Jonathan related these facts:
Dear Staff and Families,
I wanted to write one more time before the holidays. On Tuesday, the 5th, we welcomed the Women’s League from the western suburbs. They are a wonderful group. Many of them have children who have made applications to us.
The next day, our Board President, Mary Dempsey, and I met with the COO of the Archdiocese, Betsy Bohlen. We continue to look at long-term plans for Misericordia.
On December 7, we had a very busy day. The Board of Directors met from 1 p.m. until 3:30 followed by the Board of Advisors. This was all followed by Mass for our major donors and a reception. It was a wonderful day for so many folks who believe so deeply in us. We are grateful to them all for their time, talent and treasure.
Michael started his career in the Marian Center in Apartment 101 on the PM shift. It was there that he developed his passion for working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. From there, he moved onto the Village where he became the Miniat QIDP for several years. As Michael grew, so did his skillset. He was then promoted to Village director and then Assistant Vice President of Community Day Services.
Michael's contributions are vast and we are grateful for all that he has done during his tenure. He helped successfully lead CDS through the Settings rule and has been a strong advocate for our residents down in Springfield through IARF, where he served on the board.
We wish Michael the best in the next chapter of his career and we thank him for his many years of service.
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