Just Like Us
On this Thanksgiving Day, it is our wish that, as part of the human community:
“We discover that all human beings are just like us, so we are able to relate to them more easily. That generates a spirit of friendship in which there is less need to hide what we feel or what we are doing.” ~ Dalai Lama |
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Catalent Cares Volunteers with Mountain Shadows Resident, Johanna. |
Catalent Cares: Just Like Us By Sheryl Wilde “They feel like they are cared about,” says Vickie Perdaris, Activities Director, Mountain Shadows-San Diego. “They’re interacting with others, everybody’s laughing, there’s good food, the music is going, and they’re all having a great time. “The residents may not be able to show it in the same way as you or I do, but it means a lot to them when people come to see them.” |
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Volunteers from Catalent Cares have been hosting Thanksgiving lunch for Mountain Shadows residents for many years. Says Edith Avalos, Residential Coordinator for Jacaranda and Palm houses. “It’s always very special for them when the volunteers from Catalent come to visit them.
“Shannon is one of our more verbal residents. The volunteers were playing a game with him and making it really joyful for him. They were telling him, ‘Oh, you did it!’ They were asking his opinion. Shannon is often on bedrest due to his medical condition, but we were able to take him to the Thanksgiving lunch and he really enjoyed it.
“Linda is another very verbal resident. She was playing cards and joking with the volunteers. Near the end, she had three volunteers surrounding her. They were playing cards and everybody else started to leave. We were bringing the other residents back home. But they just kept playing cards! Linda was the last resident to leave. She wasn’t ready to go home.”
Adds Vickie, “Linda is a new resident to Jacaranda house. She’s very protective of the staff members, and she’ll hold her hand in a fist and shake it and say, “Don’t mess with her! She’s taking care of me!’ She says it in the most loving and caring way. Linda loves chocolate. And she just loves flirting with the opposite sex.” |
Resident, Linda, lovingly shakes her fist, protecting her staff members,
“Don’t mess with her! She takes care of me.” |
“Johanna, a resident of Olive house, crashed the party!” adds Vickie. “She rolled in and said, ‘Hi! You’re having a party?!?! How come you’re not at Olive house???’ We just said, ‘Oh Johanna, come on in. Crash the party!’ She joined in and really spiced up the party.
“Resident Marta has involuntary movements of her hands and feet. The Catalent volunteers were assisting her and helping her color. Marta is able to say yes and no. The staff asked her if she wanted to keep coloring and she said, “Si!” So, she was having a great time.
“Resident Stephanie was just all giggles all day long. Every time someone talked to her, she would giggle. “There are so many benefits for the residents when they get to interact with others. It makes them feel just like us.”
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“I want to say thank you to all of the volunteers from Catalent,” says Edith. “The meals were delicious. The volunteers were really hands-on. They did arts and crafts, and played games with the residents. It was sunny and the weather was perfect. It was a really fun afternoon.”
Adds Trisha Brodd, Residential Services Manager, MSCH – San Diego, “The Catalent volunteers were super engaged with the residents. It didn’t matter what they could or couldn’t do.
“My daughter was there. She’s 15. She has grown up at Mountain Shadows. Since she was a little girl, I’ve talked with her about the intellectually disabled world and how they are no different. I think that’s important. She learned to treat people as they are. They’re just like us. They want to do the same things we do. Just treat them as one of us.” “Catalent has already said they want to come out again before next November,” says Vickie. “Ruth Cellery is the coordinator of the Catalent Cares program and she’s a wonderful lady.” |
Catalent Cares connects Catalent team members—their time, talents, and resources—to their communities, according to their website. They connect with local communities through a suite of Catalent Cares programming, including volunteering, grants and strategic partnerships. Each year, Catalent Cares celebrates a company-wide volunteer event to engage and unite their global community. The Catalent Month of Service (CMS), a month-long signature volunteer event held in November each year, activates employee volunteer teams from sites around the world. In November 2022, the company celebrated their sixth annual Catalent Month of Service, their largest celebration to date. 3700 employees participated in 100 community projects and touched more than 20,000 lives. The 100 projects completed over the course of the month included a mix of volunteering and fundraising efforts in which Catalent sites partnered with organizations benefitting a wide range of causes, like Mountain Shadows.
Thank you to Catalent and all of their incredible volunteers for making this a Thanksgiving where we fully realized our dream of treating everyone just like us. |
Mountain Shadows Community Homes Invites You to a Free Holiday Concert
Hosted by the Pacific Coast Concert Band
Friends and Family Welcome! December 1st, 2023 6:30 PM Mary Triplett Park 2067 West El Norte Parkway
Escondido, CA |
The Mountain Shadows Foundation –
Because We CARE |
Thanks to YOUR SUPPORT, the Mountain Shadows CARE program provides recreational and social experiences to residents and participants adding meaning and richness to their lives.
It’s easy for you to help us continue to provide activities that improve the quality of our residents’ lives in fulfillment of their dreams. Here are some ways you can help ensure these crucial activities can continue for years to come: - Make a one-time donation today by clicking on the donate button below.
- Make a monthly or annual contribution.
- Leave a Legacy Gift.
To learn more about the Mountain Shadows Foundation Legacy Society, to include us in your estate plan, or to let us know if you have already designated Mountain Shadows to receive a legacy gift, please contact Mandy Huiras, Director of Development at: mhuiras@mtnshadows.org, or visit our website by clicking here:
Learn More About the Mountain Shadows Foundation Legacy Society Please share this story with your family, friends and co-workers to help grow our Mountain Shadows Family! |
Mandy Huiras Mountain Shadows Foundation Director of Development
Contact Mandy today to learn more about the Mountain Shadows Foundation and how you can make a difference in the lives of our residents:
mhuiras@mtnshadows.org |
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