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770 Converse Street, Longmeadow, MA 01106 (413) 567-6211
News & Publications JGS employees rise to latest storm challenges
We are accredited by the Joint Commission.JGS employees rise to latest storm challenges
Surely three storms to our area in one year, not including the record snowfall, should have been enough to satisfy Mother Nature’s twisted sense of humor, but there we were again in October digging out from the worst yet of the storms.
Hundreds of trees whose leaves were still turning their glorious fall colors were brought swiftly down by the weight of heavy, wet snow that caused a week long power outage to most of the Pioneer Valley. Even the hardiest of New Englanders
felt their patience and nerves tested by this latest storm.
But once again, like they did during the snowstorms, the tornadoes and the hurricane, JGS employees, staff and volunteers rose to the occasion of this freak October nor’easter.
At JGS that weekend, staff did what they always do in these emergencies, answered the call to help and make sure all residents and patients were safe. While most of the JGS campus is powered by a generator, the Genesis subsidized housing facility’s generator was affected by the tree damage around the campus.
Genesis House residents were grateful for the attention they received and came together to sign a note of Thanks to the staff. “We would like to extend our most sincere gratitude for all the care and assistance you provided for us during our most recent disaster. It is so rare in this day and age to encounter such warmth and compassion. We thank you for everything you have done for our residents of our apartment complex.”
Several JGs staff members donned hair nets and helped out in the kitchen making sandwiches and warm meals for Genesis residents. Interim CEO, Linda Donohue, requested cots from the fire department for residents that didn’t have heat. JGS later loaned some of those cots to another nearby elder care facility whose residents lost heat in their rooms.
Ava Wills, already a JGS hero for her extra care to patients during the tornadoes, talked one of her home health patients into moving into a warming center, something the Longmeadow Police were unable to do.
JGS was also able to offer help to the surrounding powerless Longmeadow community during the crises. For example, the organization was ready to host services and a Bat Mitzvah for Sinai Temple, but the temple’s power came back Thursday and they were able to resume their normal activities. One Longmeadow family brought their son who has asthma to the facility for his nebulizer treatments. Other members of the community found warmth, power for their cell phones and lap tops, and hot coffee.
“The JGS campus looked like a twinkling star in the dark night that is Longmeadow,” said one Longmeadow resident. And that twinkling star was “made up of several hundred points of light,” said Linda Donoghue, COO, CNO, “which was all of the JGS staff.”
“This past week has been a challenging one for the JGS family,” said Linda Donoghue in a communication to the JGS staff. “ Most of you have been without electricity and heat in your own homes and dealing with the issues associated with school closings and child care. Besides those inconveniences, we have had to deal with finding gas for our cars, disposing of food that had spoiled because of no refrigeration as well as having no hot water for a shower or bath. Playing board games by candlelight or flashlight is fun for just so long.”
“Despite all of these obstacles, you all rose to the occasion and do what you do best. You put one foot in front of the other, got to work with a smile on your face and cared for our residents. Whether it was a hot meal, keeping the campus clean and safe, passing meds or getting our bills out on time, it was a true team effort. The team pitched in and drove to pick up our stranded colleagues, demonstrate hospitality to members of the community and manage to serve another 100 meals a day to the Genesis housing site. It was nothing short of a herculean effort.”
“On behalf of the Board of Directors and my colleagues on Senior Staff, a heartfelt note of gratitude for everything you do,” said Donoghue.
© 2011 Jewish Geriatric Services, Inc. | 770 Converse Street, Longmeadow, MA 01106 | (413) 567-6211 