Dear Friends of STARS Family Services,
It’s almost here. Finally. Monday, July 6, is reopening day at STARS Family Services.
A few days ago, Carol Casey, our director of residential life, sent me this photo with the message: Katie has already started packing for her return to the Hooten House! Got off the phone with Ian’s mom—he can’t wait to get back home to Washington House. Got a note from Chris’s mom that he is looking forward to being back at Kenny’s Home!
When I wrote last asking for your prayers and support as we moved forward toward this day, I did not know how long it would take or what all would be involved. Thank you for your generous and prayerful response. I promised to let you know when we would open our doors, and it is my delight to bring this news to you. Here is a brief summary of what has happened to get us to this momentous point.
THE HOMES THEMSELVES. We brought in a team of specialists for times of intensive cleaning and maintenance has taken place in all three homes since we closed the doors back in March.
THE SFS STAFF. Though the houses were closed, our staff never stopped working. Online contacts with residents, figuring out new protocols for health and safety for all people, learning a new regimen for cleaning are just some of the areas of work that filled many of our lives during these months. And getting ready to reopen the doors has proven to take a lot more time than closing the doors.
RESIDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. From all I’ve heard, the last few weeks have been good times for our residents and their families to connect and encourage one another during the pandemic. They have also received training in the new best practices for residents when they return home. Each of the residents has actually self-quarantined for the last two weeks to get ready to move back. Some already have their bags packed and are counting the hours until they can return.
Now that the reopening is upon us, we need your prayers because the work is really just getting started, so here are a few ways you can pray.
Give thanks with us for our residents and the staff who are getting settled back in to Kenny’s Home, the Hooten House and the Washington House.
Pray for both staff and residents as they adjust to the new regimen of living and working in the homes with elements of social distancing, masks, hand-washing—what we’ve all be facing these past few weeks.
Pray for good health and patience as folks get settled into a new routine. Change is a challenge, and moving back home will be both familiar and different. There will also be a lag time until residents can begin outside employment. Our staff have good plans to fill the days. Pray for reconnecting with one another and with staff.
Pray for God to continue to provide the financial needs of STARS Family Services. We estimate that full-day costs to run one of the SFS homes is $548 or all three homes are $1,644. Pray for people to be moved to continue to support STARS Family Services with their prayers and their tax-deductible financial gifts.
Celebrate our reopening with a donation now!
Thanks for being a friend of STARS Family Services!
Tom Paulsen
President of the Board of Directors
STARS Family Services