#BecauseOfYou

June 3, 2020

It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood. Hello from our Dogwood residence on this sunny wednesday! #Becauseofyou

June 2, 2020

Another day, another sweet sign for Benard Alila – House Manager at our Burgess Residence. Our individuals and DSP’s are so supportive of our Managers, and that makes for such a great team! Way to go, Benard and the team at Burgess! #Becauseofyou

June 1, 2020

Happy #MotivationMonday! We’re sharing this incredible photo from our O’Donnell program, where the residents surprised House Manager Jamie Ligouri with this poster recognizing her hard work. Send her and the team at O’Donnell some big congrats in the comments below! #Becauseofyou

May 30, 2020

Happy Saturday from Roberts Road, who are spent some time earlier this week making bird feeders, that are hanging from a beautiful Japanese Maple in their yard. We bet they’re going to be spending some time with the birds this weekend. Special thanks to DSP Neena Faucher for leading the activity! #Becauseofyou

May 28, 2020

It takes so much to keep our programs and individuals supported during this pandemic, and we have so many members of staff working behind the scenes, in new roles, doing just that. Today, we’re saying a special thank you to Day Hab Supervisor, Tyree Tramel, and Office Manager, Ann-Marie Angell. Tyree has been working since the start of our Day Program closure making sure that day activity supplies are delivered to our residential programs. Ann-Marie continues to offer support by sewing face masks…and donating arts and crafts supplies! #Becauseofyou

May 27, 2020

The Arc of Dutchess is FULL of gardens, thanks to our Wishes and Wants Funds and the generosity of our donors. Today, we are sending an ENORMOUS shout out to a very special donor…A STAFF MEMBER & LPN, Amanda, who made a donation of mulch to Upton Lake’s beautiful garden. Are you as excited as Ry to see this garden grow? #Becauseofyou

May 24, 2020

Happy Sunday! Today, we’re so excited to share this story with you about the individuals we support and how much they appreciate their staff. The individuals at Upton Lake made these signs of recognition for Nick Montalvo, House Manager at the program. We want to give a shout out to everyone at Upton Lake – the individuals, the staff that helped make this sweet surprise possible, and – of course – Nick! Leave your kudos in the comments below! #Becauseofyou

May 22, 2020

The individuals at Roberts Road are getting ready for the weekend by working on math and financial education! Big shout out to DSP’s Neena Faucher and Joanna Rocco for leading the activities, and to the entire staff at Roberts Road! #Becauseofyou

May 21, 2020

Art creates joy. BIG THANKS to the individuals and staff at Roberts Road for lending their creativity to this video in support of our friends and partners at Arts Mid-Hudson! We raise our paintbrushes to DSP Jaimieleigh Robertson, who helped coordinate the sweet picture that appears right in the beginning of the video, and to all the staff at the program that helped make our participation possible. Art has played such a vital role in our programs as our individuals continue to stay at home to stop the spread, and our DSP’s have done remarkable work at exposing them to new means of expression and creativity. We can’t wait to keep sharing the ways art – and our community partners – create joy here in Dutchess County! #Becauseofyou #togetherwecreate

May 21, 2020

Our Rec & Teen Club Green Vipers aren’t missing a beat…or should we say, a step…thanks to Coach Micheal and Coach Tyler cheering them on from a zoom call and leading them through at home practice! We agree, the Green Vipers Rock! Way to go, Team! #Becauseofyou

May 20, 2020

The ladies at our Roberts Road residence are getting crafty again, thanks to the creative DSP’s at the program. They made art for their rooms using beautiful paint and design-work. Gorgeous work, right? #Becauseofyou

May 19, 2020

Here is one of our DSP’s, Emma Seeley, who goes #aboveandbeyond at our Ives residence. She keeps knocking it out of the park, and Ives is going to be receiving a meal from our Wishes & Wants Meal Fund this week! Our Fund is JUST SHY of $6,000. Who will be the donor that gets us to our next goal? And stay tuned for a feast perfect for the dynamic team at Ives! #Becauseofyou #Wishesandwants

May 19, 2020

It’s so hard for all of us to celebrate special occasions while staying at home as we continue to fight the spread of COVID-19. But we are all finding really special ways to show one another that we care, and for one individual that we support, a staff member went #aboveandbeyond. Caitlynn Bucher (from our Dover Dab Hab site), who was recently promoted to Day Hab Coordinator of Program Operations, participated in a drive-by birthday celebration that included some of our friends at the Millerton Fire Department. Check out this sweet video and give our friend Josh a big (belated) HAPPY BIRTHDAY! #Becauseofyou

May 18, 2020

Happy Monday from our O’Donnell individuals and staff! They’re hoping to #spreadcheer and hope, and we can’t imagine this picture doing anything else! #ODonnellstrong #Becauseofyou

May 16, 2020

Here’s a #saturdayshoutout to our Dogwood program, and the DSP’s who are providing dynamic and innovative supports to the individuals in the program. Thanks to Ann O’Herron and Sara Spitz who have sent in these photos, and to ALL the DSP’s, including the residential DSP’s, for working together so seemlessly to bring such light and life into the program! #Becauseofyou

May 15, 2020

We’re breathing deep and seeking peace into this weekend, thanks to another zoom call with Jillian McMorrow, DSP and yoga teacher. Here she is leading a class of six individuals! Thanks again for the creativity Jillian and all our DSP’s continue to show! #Becauseofyou

May 14, 2020

Every week should be nurses week! Our nurses are so important, and we have an anonymous donor who we are so grateful for who helped us to say an extra special thank you. This individual worked with New corn crib greenhouse for floral arrangements for all our nurses. What a wonderful gesture and partnership! Here are two of our nurses, Melissa and Cindy, accepting their flowers. Give all our fabulous front-line nurses a big thank you in the comments below! #Becauseofyou

May 14, 2020

Our DSP’s are SO creative! Here are some cool photos from our Roberts Road program, where the individuals supported used vegetable oil, Alka-seltzer, water and food coloring to make “lava lamps”! Way to go Jaimieleigh (who sent in these photos) and all the DSP’s at the residence! #Becauseofyou

May 13, 2020

In times like these, we are blown away by the kindness of our staff and individuals that we support. Last week, the individuals at our Dogwood program made key chains for their sister program, Roberts Road. Talk about #thinkingofothers! Thank you to everyone at Dogwood, including Ann O’Herron and the caring DSP’s who helped make this happen! #Becauseofyou

May 12, 2020

The weather is looking a lot better today! Here’s a sweet photo from Hurley Road featuring some outdoor play with DSP, Shamel Slater! Way to go, Shamel! #Becauseofyou

May 9, 2020

On this chilly Saturday, we bet you’re warming up with some yummy treats…like the brownies that the individuals at our Dogwood program whipped up. Thanks to our DSP’s for their culinary skills! #Becauseofyou

May 8, 2020

Happy #Friyay! We’ve heard some whispers of chilly weather this weekend, but that didn’t stop us from making a delivery of plants and gardening equipment funded by our Wishes & Wants Activity Fund to our Upton Lake Program! And they were all pretty excited to get started! Stay tuned to see how their garden grows! #WishesandWants #Becauseofyou

May 6, 2020

Today marks the beginning of Nurses Appreciation Week, and this year is truly a year unlike any other. In the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic, our nurses are vital to maintaining the health and happiness of our programs and individuals. We are so grateful for each and EVERY one of you, and we look forward to thanking each of you individually throughout the week. Today, we got to start that practice by thanking some of our nurses including: Nan Kramer, LPN at our Lagrange and Dover Day Hab sites; Amanda Torres, RN at our Pessia Residence; and Grace Merkle, LPN at our Kent and Roberts Rd Residences. THANK YOU to Nan, Amanda, Grace…and all our Nurses! #NationalNursesDay #Becauseofyou

May 4, 2020

Happy #MotivationMonday from the individuals at Kent Road who are practicing reading skills. Give it up for the DSP’s for making sure that our individuals still meet their goals while in self-quarantine! #Becauseofyou

May 3, 2020

Easter might be a thing of Sundays past, but we still can’t get enough of the celebrations that happened in the residences. Check out the intense decorating that went down at Upton Lake! Thanks to the DSP’s for leading the charge on the festivities! #Becauseofyou

May 2, 2020

Check out this weather! Maybe we should take a note from our individuals at O’Donnell and hit the trails for a hike! Thanks to the DSP’s for keeping our individuals out and about…and socially distant! #Becauseofyou

May 1, 2020

Say hi to the sweetest duo here at The Arc of Dutchess, Harry and Micheal, our Coordinator of Home Services. These two have a friendship like no other – not even the Coronavirus can get in the way. And Micheal’s Facetime check-ins on Harry keep him motivated to stay positive through these uncertain times. Keep it up, you two! #Becauseofyou

April 30, 2020

Doesn’t breakfast look waffle-ly yummy (get it!)? Shout out to DSP’s Dee and Crystal for helping the individuals at Upton Lake whip up some waffles for breakfast! #Becauseofyou

April 29, 2020

Happy Wednesday! We hope you are having as much fun as everyone at O’Donnell. Way to go DSP’s! #Becauseofyou

April 28, 2020

It’s lunch time and we are a little jealous of something delicious that Roberts Road whipped up last week. Thanks to the DSP’s working in the program, including Neena and Joanna, who turned frozen bananas into something fun and yummy! #Becauseofyou

April 28, 2020

Last Friday, a very sweet donation came in from a staff member that wishes to remain anonymous. Boxes and boxes of cookies for ALL our residential programs to enjoy. We just wanted to share this story because it demonstrates the kind of family we have here at The Arc of Dutchess. We really ARE all in this together. #Becauseofyou

April 27, 2020

Raise your hand if you think it’s time to see some more photos of the staff and individuals at Bessie Payne having an awesome time! Thank you to all the DSP’s that make photos like these possible! #Becauseofyou

April 27, 2020

COVID-19 hasn’t stopped us from thinking – ahem – ZOOMING ahead! Here’s some of our Dutchess Community College #ThinkAHEAD students on a zoom call. Thanks to the DSP’s helping to coordinate the catch-up, including Jabez Wroten and Jillian McMorrow!

April 26, 2020

We think Sundays are for restoration, and thanks to DSP Jillian McMorrow, some of the individuals we support are zooming through another yoga session! Happy Sunday, everyone! #Becauseofyou

April 25, 2020

It’s the weekend…and Saturdays are for puzzles, especially at Kent Road! Thanks to the DSP’s working at the residence! #Becauseofyou

April 24, 2020

Dinnertime at North Parliman! While we can’t be there to enjoy a meal with you, we wish you all a happy weekend, and send a special THANK YOU to the front line workers, like the North Parliman DSP’s, that do such amazing work in the midst of this crisis. #Becauseofyou

April 24, 2020

Talk about CREATIVE! The individuals at our Pessia residence are using rubbing alcohol and and sharpies to make art! Thanks to Melissa Harris, redeployed Community Prevocational staffer, for sending this photo and for all the staff responsible for such ingenuity! #Becauseofyou

April 22, 2020

The DSP’s at our Dogwood residence are making sure the individuals supported by the program have plenty of fun activities! Thank you all for being so creative, including Ann O’Herron, Michelle Englishby, and Sara Spitz who sent these photos into us! #Becauseofyou

April 22, 2020

Now they’re inside, now they’re outside. The individuals at Bessie Payne are busy making, creating, and playing thanks to the creative DSP’s at the residence, including Susan Malone and Marcia Weldon. Thanks to the entire team at Bessie Payne! #Becauseofyou

April 22, 2020

Happy Earth Day! Here’s how our Ives Residence is celebrating, thanks to this sweet snapshot of a painting project sent from DSP Emma Seeley! Thanks to the Ives DSP’s for making today extra special for those we support! #Becauseofyou

April 22, 2020

Here’s DSP Amber Seiman leading an art activity at North Avenue. We just are overwhelmed to see how creative (pun intended) our staff continue to be in supporting the individuals in our residential programs. Way to go! #Becauseofyou

April 21, 2020

We’re making #throwbacktuesday a thing and sharing these very sweet signs from our (socially distant) celebration with Q92 because we want to thank ALL the DSP’s working magic in our residential program, bringing creativity, fun, and light to the individuals we support during these uncertain times. #Becauseofyou

April 21, 2020

Well, this post will definitely make you hungry! Last week, the Jaimieleigh Robertson sent in this yummy moment from Roberts Road. Always thinking of new ways to keep the individuals engaged and excited about learning new things, they made pie crust from scratch for a delicious homemade quiche – and Krista was particularly skilled at it. It seems that we really like our sassy chefs here at The Arc of Dutchess! Thanks to the culinary and creative DSP’s at Roberts Road! #Becauseofyou

April 20, 2020

Go under the sea at our Kent Road residence, thanks to Danny and his seascape puzzle. Thanks to all the DSP’s helping to keep the residents happy and healthy! #Becauseofyou

April 19, 2020

Our North Avenue staff have been busy providing Day Hab activities to the individuals supported by the programs, like Robin, thanks to some of our redeployed Day Habilitation staff like Latoya Peterson and Nykea Johnson. Sending a special thank you to Latoya for bringing new activities into the house, and for all the residential DSP’s for working so seemlessly with new staff! #Becauseofyou

April 19, 2020

DSP Emma Seeley sent this sweet photo from our Ives House. We agree, this IS How You Throw a Block Party During Social Distancing. Thanks Emma, and all the DSP’S thinking outside the blocks (get it!). #Becauseofyou

April 18, 2020

Here’s another photo from North Avenue. Say hi to Kevin and Latoya! #Becauseofyou

April 18, 2020

Happy Saturday from the team at North Avenue: Aziza Tingling, Lupe Olmedo-Arroyo, Brittany Lachausse, Christian Garcia, and Farady Harris Espinosa…and Kevin…who received a DSP goodie bag last week. Give them a great big thanks! #Becauseofyou

April 17, 2020

Ending your week with yoga? Thanks to Day Hab staffer Jillian McMorrow, five individuals who are at home with their families got to enjoy some virtual yoga. We’re overwhelmed by the innovation and creativity our staff continues to show in supporting our individuals. Way to go, Jillian! #Becauseofyou

April 17, 2020

The individuals at our Dogwood Residence are having a #feelgoodfriday thanks to the incredible DSP’s, some from residential and some redeployed from other programs, that work together so seemlessly! #Becauseofyou

April 17, 2020

Last week, Ricardo and Lasharee were joined by Charles to receive their Thank You treats! We are so grateful for their hard work and dedication. Give them, and all the DSP’s at Burgess a special shout out in the comments below! #Becauseofyou

April 17, 2020

Here’s Shania Robinson, DSP Supervisor at our Kent Residence, striking a pose and accepting a bag of goodies for the DSP’s at the program. We’re so grateful for you! #Becauseofyou

April 16, 2020

Meet the PVI staff: Laura, Cindy, Elsa, and Kimberly! They received a staff appreciation basket last week. We are SO grateful for all the do to keep some of our most medically fragile individuals safe and protected. Thank you! #Becauseofyou

April 16, 2020

The Easter Bunny brought a scrumptious breakfast to our Burgess residence for the individuals supported. Thanks to Jessica Santiago, a redeployed DSP from Day Hab WOW, for sending in this photo and for her and all the overnight staff for creating such a thoughtful surprise! #Becauseofyou

April 15, 2020

The DSP’s at our Pessia Residence are going above and beyond to make sure that the individuals there are able to enjoy time outdoors! Special thanks to Nicole Scozzari, Lena Dishanna Vanduzen, Alaetra Walker, Kristina Way, Monika Garcia, Areian Pitcher, Melissa Harris and Renee Mako! #Becauseofyou

April 14, 2020

Last week, Christina Suarez and Tiffany Crawford received their Thank You bags along with some of the individuals they support. A very special thank you to both of them…and all the DSP’s at Dogwood! Send them some love in the comments below! #Becauseofyou

April 13, 2020

It’s motivation monday, and there is NOTHING more motivating than seeing our individuals reporting to work as #essentialemployees being supported by our outstanding Job Coaches. Say hi to Alyssa at Adams Fairacre Farms, Inc., David and Christopher at Marona’s Market, and Charlie and James at Dame Place. Thank you to ALL our #essentialworkers! #Becauseofyou

April 13, 2020

One of our LPN’s, Amanda Novoa, took some time in the fresh air to help one of our resident artists, Uriah, with his beautiful spray paint art. #Becauseofyou

April 12, 2020

Say thanks to Jose Quinones and Sara Hart, two of our Job Coaches that received staff appreciation bags yesterday! They are making sure the individuals we support that are #essentialworkers are able to continue working in the community (stay tuned to meet some of them tomorrow)! Thank YOU! #Becauseofyou

April 12, 2020

To everyone celebrating today, we hope you have as much fun celebrating at home as the individuals at Roberts Road did prepping for the day! Thanks to the staff at the home, including, Erika Quintana (pictured). #Becauseofyou

April 11, 2020

Enjoying the great outdoors is the best way to enjoy this great Spring weather. For everyone that’s celebrating today, we wish you well and hope you enjoy the (socially distant) time with your family. A special thanks to DSP Aziza Tingling who keeps the folks at our North Avenue residence, including a smiling Cynthia, happy and healthy. #Becauseofyou!

April 10, 2020

#Unbelieveable. We truly have the best staff ever here at The Arc of Dutchess. Our Day Hab team made staff appreciation baskets for our residential staff. Read that again. If you haven’t taken a moment to thank our DSP’s, this is a great time to do it. They are every bit as amazing as every #Becauseofyou post describes…and then some. Special thank you to Jonita Biscardi for coordinating these!

April 10, 2020

Not missing a beat, the Coordinator and DSP’s from our Rec & Teen Club got the group together for a video conference to check in and see how everyone is doing. Way to go Michael Niles, Martika Diaz, Guadalupe Olmedo and Tyler Vitagliano! #Becauseofyou

April 10, 2020

Thank you to the DSP’s at our Kent Road residence for leading a series of fun activities for the residents! A special thanks to DSP Jabez Wroten from our Day Hab WOW/Think Ahead program who helped lead the activities! #Becauseofyou The Arc New York

April 9, 2020

Give a big thank you to our Hurley Road team, who got a bag of goodies dropped off today! Here’s Connor Koch from Day Hab and Rich Downing from Community PreVoc – two redeployed DSP’s working in the home! #Becauseofyou #Thankyou

April 9, 2020

Give it up for first shift at our Burgess residence: David Thorpe, Kadeem Davis, Imani Washington, Tia Thomas, and Benard Alila. They received a special delivery of goodies to thank them for going above and beyond, for uniting as a team, and for their dedication to those we support. #Becauseofyou

April 9, 2020

Our Pessia Residence has gone to the birds…thanks to some VERY CREATIVE DSP’s who helped the individuals supported by the program make bird feeders! Thank you to the Pessia staff, including Community PreVocational staff redeployed to the house, Melissa Harris and Renee Mako, and the fantastic residential DSP’s: Nicole Scozzari, Lena Dishanna Vanduzen, Alaetra Walker, Kristina Way, Monika Garcia, and Areian Pitcher! #Becauseofyou

April 8, 2020

We are so grateful for our front-line staff, and we’re doing our best to show them how #essential they are to our agency. A special delivery arrived at our Lagrange Day Habilitation building on Monday for the staff still working there. Here’s your chance to thank them, too! #Becauseofyou The Arc New York

April 8, 2020

The incredible front line staff at our Bessie Payne residence continue to keep the minds and creativity of the residents engaged through making art. Here’s a peek at some rock painting they worked on yesterday. Thank you for all you do! #Becauseofyou!

April 7, 2020

Things are looking bright and light at our Hillcrest Residence. Big thanks to the DSP’s keeping the residents happy and healthy during this healthcare crisis, including: Donovan Bigelow, Marcia Sydnor Woolcook, Emani Cooper, and Shirley Thomas! #Becauseofyou

April 6, 2020

The DSP’s at Roberts Road are at it again. From art, to the outdoors, to a NAIL SALON – they really are making the best of this situation and is doing their best to make sure the individuals supported by the program are truly happy. Thank you to the ENTIRE STAFF of Roberts Road, including Neena Faucher, Joanna Rocco and Erika Quintana! #Becauseofyou

April 5, 2020

We received a really nice email from one of our Residential Coordinators, Cindy, thanking all the staff at our Upton Lake residence for all they are doing to help the individuals supported stay active and happy during these times. We couldn’t do it without every single one of the great DSP’s that work in the home.

April 4, 2020

The individuals at Burgess are getting in on the artmaking, thanks to the DSP’s working in the program. A Big thank you to everyone helping to inspire the creativity of our individuals, and especially the staff at Burgess! #Becauseofyou

April 3, 2020

Another #feelgoodfriday moment? We want to give a big shout out to the individuals WE SUPPORT in our supported employment programs that are still working as essential employees in the community at places such as Adams Fairacre Farms, Inc., Hannaford’s, Shop Rite, Stop & Shop, TOPS, B.J.’s, Home Depot, Lowes, Flory’s Mobile, Dunkin Donuts, and McDonalds, along with those working at our State sites that are still open. Let’s give a special thanks to Braden Kline, an individual working at ACME, and his Job Coach, Jose Quinones.

April 3, 2020

What makes a #feelgoodfriday? Art! The staff at Roberts Road, including Erica Quintana (pictured), are working with the individuals we support on some artwork – we can’t wait to see what you all create! #Becauseofyou

April 2, 2020

The DSP’s at our Dogwood Residence, including redeployed staff members Sara Spitz, Ann O’Herron and Michelle Englishby, are pulling out all the stops to make sure that the individuals supported there are having a good time. It’s #Becauseofyou and everyone at Dogwood that we’re going to get through this crisis! Thank you!

April 1, 2020

While you’ve heard a great deal about essential and nonessential businesses related to COVID-19, we’re sending a special thank you to our Job Coaches who are still supporting our individuals as they work in the community as essential employees. Big thank you to our DSP Job Coaches: Jeff Liguori, Erick Morales, Sara Hart, Matt Lyons, Artoria Anderson, Tina Barger, Natasha Bassett, Jose Quinones, Diane Maffei, and Nadine Headley. #BecauseofYou

graphic that says Because of You! Staff Spotlight

March 31, 2020

Direct Support Professionals (DSP’s) on the front-lines of the COVID-19 crisis are going above and beyond in supporting the individuals in our residential program. Let’s give big kudos to Neena Faucher and Jo Rocco, redeployed Day Habilitation DSP’s, who are working with art with some of the women at our Roberts Road residence. Thanks to the whole staff at Roberts Road! #Becauseofyou

photo of artwork with two houses

March 30, 2020

Marcia Weldon and Susan Malone, two members of our Dover Day Habilitation team, were redeployed to our residential programs just in time to help the staff throw a birthday party for one of the individuals we support. Not only did these two extraordinary DSP’s tackle reassignment and begin work at a new setting, they, along with the rest of the Bessie Payne staff, helped to spark joy in the midst of such uncertainty. We are so grateful for their compassion and commitment! #Becauseofyou

March 29, 2020

Continuing to do their vital work, a group of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) from our Rec & Teen Club went above and beyond for an individual we support, Fred, by coordinating and gathering a special care package full of tabletop games and bakeware items to keep him busy during this challenging time. A huge thank you to Coordinator, Michael Niles, and DSP’S, Martika Diaz, Guadalupe Olmedo and Tyler Vitagliano! #Becauseofyou

graphic that says Because of You! Staff Spotlight

March 28, 2020

We received a touching message from Benard, our House Manager of our Burgess program who wanted to recognize and thank the Day Hab team working at the residence: Imani Washington and Tia Thomas. These amazing DSP’s have been reassigned and are doing amazing work and bringing great energy to Burgess. Their reassignment was a smooth transition thanks to their positive attitude and teamwork. Thank you to everyone at Burgess! #BecauseofYou

March 27, 2020

There’s no such thing as 6-feet apart for our Direct Support Professionals (DSP’s), and we are so thankful for the incredible commitment and dedication they continue to show as they work on the front-lines of this COVID-19 crisis. Thanks to all the staff at Upton Lake, including Michael Fitzmaurice, a redeployed DSP new to the program, and Kerry Oliver, a second DSP staff member in the house, who kept things light and bright for the individuals there. #BecauseofYou