17 Feb Everas Clients Spread Love on Valentine’s Day

Everas Community Services Day Program, Our-Co, is a community based program with four locations throughout New Jersey. Each of our programs focuses on the principle that all people have the potential to make meaningful contributions given their unique abilities and interests. Volunteering in the community contributes to a healthy sense of self-esteem and thus opportunities are sought for the individuals who attend Our-Co to donate their time and skills to organizations in need.

Over the past few weeks clients in Our-Co Somerset and Our-Co Jersey City have been tapping into their creativity for the Love Letters Campaign sponsored by DoSomething.org, an organization that sparks social change through grassroots campaigns. Everas clients joined other volunteers nationwide to target the issue of the elderly living in isolation. Using basic crafting supplies including construction paper, glue, markers, assorted decals along with their creativity, clients made lovely cards to be distributed on Valentine’s Day to the elderly through Meals on Wheels deliveries in Somerset County.

In Our-Co, individuals across a broad spectrum of ability are supported so that they can participate together in meaningful activities like this one. The clients were eager to participate and create something to brighten another person’s day. Card making was an enjoyable activity in itself, but the opportunity to give back in the process made it especially gratifying.

We are grateful to spread some cheer to the elderly while empowering our clients to both give back as well as create something beautiful. By looking to see first what someone can do, versus the perception of their limitations, we can ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to contribute to their communities.