Jill Berry – Page 6 – The Arc of Howard County

The Importance of “Saying Yes!”

Posted on May 18, 2020 at 4:01 pm.

Last week, Claire Ramirez-Schene’s Business Showcase Series featured our very own Barbara Moyer! Barbara Moyer, Director of Marketing, Communication and Events, spoke on the importance of “Saying Yes!” To watch the video, click here. Thank you, Claire Ramirez-Schene!

The Arc of Howard County Chosen as First Feed Howard County Recipient

Posted on May 15, 2020 at 7:50 pm.

Written by Jill Berry

Feed Howard County Donated 100 Meals from Tino's Italian Bistro to The Arc of Howard County

The Arc of Howard County was honored to be the first recipient of Feed Howard County’s initiative to help feed the community during the COVID-19 crisis. Feed Howard County is a partnership between Howard County Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) and Howard County restaurants. Thank you to Feed Howard County and Tino’s Italian Bistro for providing 100 meals to our staff working in residential services!

Members of First Presbyterian Church also surprised us with boxes and boxes of donated food! Thank you to Pat Curran and Debra Reese! Special Shout out to Lance Cook and Nicole Giannini owners of Tino’s Italian Bistro for the delicious meals and for always showing up in a big way for The Arc of Howard County and the community!

To find out more about Feed Howard County? Click here. Also, follow Feed Howard County on:

Want to order from Tino’s Italian Bistro? Click here. You can follow Tino’s Italian Bistro on:

To learn more about the First Presbyterian Church of Howard County, click here. Follow the church on:

Ledo Pizza Columbia Donates 80 Pizzas!

Posted on May 15, 2020 at 4:32 pm.

Written by Jill Berry

While we couldn’t deliver sunshine to our residential houses …we did deliver 80 pizzas to staff and people supported by The Arc of Howard County one rainy day! Huge shout out to Kevin Schultz, owner of Ledo Pizza in Columbia who DONATED ALL of the pizzas. What an amazing Act of COVID Kindness!

Kevin and Ledo Pizza in Columbia, are also Howard County Commission on Disabilities award winners for their inclusive hiring practices! Thank you also goes out to Arc Staff who braved the rain and delivered pizza & smiles (behind the masks) to The Arc of Howard County’s residential houses in our community!

Want to find out more about Ledo Pizza in Columbia, Maryland? Click here. Also, follow Ledo Pizza on:

Communication to Families and Supporters of The Arc of Howard County: May 8, 2020

Posted on May 15, 2020 at 2:10 pm.

Written by Jill Berry

May 8, 2020

Dear Families and Supporters of The Arc of Howard County

Thank you to all of you for your continued understanding and support during the COVID-19 pandemic. As promised, we want to keep you updated on information concerning the re-opening of The Arc of Howard County. Maryland remains under a stay-at-home order for businesses.

Currently, we do not have a date for when services will resume, however, we are working to align our gradual re-opening in stages, following best practice guidelines from the DDA and in accordance with the directives given to us by Governor Larry Hogan and the State of Maryland.

Individuals with community-based employment will continue to receive supports on a case by case basis. Our residential program will continue to provide the necessary care. We will be sending out information to families and those supported by The Arc of Howard County as to when the re-opening of programs will begin and what those services will look like going forward. We continue to work collaboratively with the county and state, and do our part to ensure we minimize the effects of this virus on our community.

If you have questions or are seeking additional information related to these programs continued suspensions, please reach out to the individuals listed below.

For questions about Day and Supported Retirement, contact Bryan Sorrentino by email, bsorrentino@archoward.org or call 443-668-1834.
For questions about CDS and Intro to Employment, Independent Employment, and Omnicare, contact Robert Walker by email rwalker@archoward.org or call 443-977-0148.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation amidst these difficult times.

Regards,

Cindy Parr

Cindy Parr
Executive Director

Support The Arc of Howard County’s COVID-19 Relief Fund #GivingTuesdayNow

Posted on May 5, 2020 at 6:41 pm.

Written by Jill Berry

Giving Tuesday Now on May 5, 2020 for COVID-19 Relief Fund

In this time of uncertainty, there’s a fundamental truth that gives us hope – that together we can do extraordinary things. Over the past few weeks and months, the entire world has been coming together to stand up, help out, give back, and

heal during COVID-19.

On May 5, 2020, The Arc of Howard County is participating in #GivingTuesdayNow, a global day of unity and giving. As you know, The Arc of Howard County is dedicated to achieving full community life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities — one person at a time. At this time, integration into the community is not the priority, as individuals and dedicated and hard-working Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) are staying safe at home to minimize contact and encourage increased social distancing. We continue to work together to keep everyone safe.

On #GivingTuesdayNow, The Arc of Howard County will be raising funds for COVID-19 related issues to support the organization in this time of need. On May 5, 2020, we plan to raise money:

To purchase face masks, face shields, safety gloves, gowns, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which remains a critical need in our residential houses.
To cover crisis pay increases for Direct Support Professionals who support individuals.
To buy cleaning supplies, meals, and other items for the residential houses.

Join the movement on May 5, 2020! Click here to support The Arc of Howard County. Thank you to all who have supported The Arc of Howard County during COVID-19!

Kids’ Handmade Cards Bring Smiles

Posted on May 1, 2020 at 5:54 pm.

Written by Jill Berry

Nothing makes you smile more than something created by a child. Several people supported by The Arc of Howard County received the most adorable handmade cards drawn by from local kids this week. Michele “read her card front and back, even noting the hearts and stars on it.” Robert loved his card! So did Aly! Thank you Nirit Katzur Roddy of Fit With Nirit, LLC. (and of the Business Women’s Network of Howard County) for organizing the “card shower” and thank you to all the young artists!

Communication to Families and Supporters of The Arc of Howard County: April 24, 2020

Posted on April 27, 2020 at 10:07 am.

Written by Jill Berry

COVID-19/Coronavirus

April 24, 2020

Dear Families and Supporters of The Arc of Howard County

Thank you to all of you for your continued understanding and support during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are updating our information on closings at The Arc of Howard County.

Due to the continued spread of this virus in our community, we have decided to continue our suspension of specific services offered by The Arc of Howard County. As of today, Friday, April 24, 2020, our Day, Supported Retirement, CDS, Pre-employment classroom, and Omnicare will continue to be closed.

We will review the conditions in our community and provide

updates, as we monitor the county and state situations related to the COVID-19 virus. Our next update will be sent out Friday, May 8, 2020.

Individuals with community-based employment will continue to receive supports on a case-by-case basis. We feel that it is the most responsible action as we remain aligned with other entities in the state and county to flatten the curve of this virus in our community. This is a time that integration in the community is not the priority. Our goal is to minimize contact and encourage increased social distancing.

Our senior management is deploying staff to support our residential program to ensure supports are in place to continue to provide the necessary care. It is our hope that each and every family affected by these changes will understand this decision, as we work together to help keep everyone safe.

Both Maryland State Governor Larry Hogan and Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, have spoken of their efforts to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We must work collaboratively and do our part to ensure we minimize the effects of this virus on our community.

If you have questions or are seeking additional information related to these programs’ continued suspensions, please reach out to the individuals listed below.

For questions about Day and Supported Retirement, contact Bryan Sorrentino by email, bsorrentino@archoward.org or call 443-668-1834.
For questions about CDS and Intro to Employment, Independent Employment, and Omnicare, contact Robert Walker by email rwalker@archoward.org or call 443-977-0148.

Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation amidst these difficult times.

Regards,

Cindy Parr

Executive Director

Dangerously Delicious Pies Donates to The Arc of Howard County!

Posted on April 24, 2020 at 10:40 am.

Written by Jill Berry

Random acts of kindness are happening everywhere. Some might even call them…Acts of COVID Kindness! This week, The Arc of Howard County was the recipient of an Act of COVID Kindness. The Arc of Howard County’s very own Director of Person Centered Planning Holly Reasner, her husband, John Reasner of Reasner Studios, and Holly’s mother, Carolyn Ritter, teamed up with Dangerously Delicious Pies in Canton, Maryland to donate pies. This week, 66 Dangerously Delicious Chicken Pot Pies were donated to The Arc of Howard County homes in the community. The pies were a hit! Thank you, Holly, John, Carolyn, and Dangerously Delicious Pies!

Want to find out more about Dangerously Delicious Pies? Click here. Also, follow Dangerously Delicious Pies Canton on:

The Arc Is In Urgent Need of Face Masks and PPE. Can You Help?

Posted on April 10, 2020 at 12:13 pm.

Written by Jill Berry

The image shows an African American woman wearing a mask made out of a bandanna and rubber bands during COVID-19.

Yesterday, all of the Direct Support Professionals working in The Arc of Howard County’s Residential Houses received bandannas to use as masks until we can get Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The Arc of Howard County is in urgent need of donations of:

Face Shields
Face Masks
Gowns
Gloves
PPE

If you can donate, Face Shields, Face Masks, Gowns, Gloves, or PPE, please contact Barbara Moyer bmoyer@archoward.org.

Do you have a business with a 3D Printer? Or know of a business with a 3D printer who can print Face shields for The Arc of Howard County, please contact Barbara Moyer bmoyer@archoward.org.

The Arc of Howard County’s staff is on the front lines during this COVID-19 Pandemic, leaving their own homes and families to care for the most vulnerable in our community. They are the true heroes!

Communication to Residential Families: March 27, 2020

Posted on March 27, 2020 at 5:00 am.

Written by Jill Berry

To Families and Friends of those Supported by The Arc of Howard County:

In accordance with guidance from the CDC and DDA, The Arc of Howard County is limiting visits to the residential homes effective, Saturday, March 28, 2020. We are asking that families and friends refrain from visiting their loved ones until further notice. This decision was not made lightly, but we feel it is necessary to curb the fast-spreading Coronavirus or COVID-19.

Restricting visits doesn’t mean curtailing communication from families and friends. We will be supporting people to use alternative methods of communication with their friends and families including Face time, emails, text messages, and telephone calls.

In addition, if you chose to take your family member home for a visit, please know you will be required to keep them in your care until the State of Emergency is lifted. We realize this will be very difficult for some families and friends, but we need to take all measures necessary to protect the health and safety of the people we support and our employees.

Regards,

Cindy Parr

Cindy Parr

Executive Director