Suzanne
Suzanne Davis
Residential Support
When the Coleman Road residential program was quarantined for COVID, Suzanne was approached about assisting with the staffing there, though she had worked for the past six years at Morgan Road. Suzanne chose to help out where needed, and supported the Coleman home, putting the individuals’ care above her own. Nominated by Scott Gullett.
Robin Brown
Site Manager
Ever since Robin walked in the door at Laurel Street, she was a bright light. She brought her energy and it was contagious. Staff looked forward to coming to work, and new staff began to book shifts there. Robin engages the ladies with craft nights, paint and sips, painting birdhouses, making canvases, spa days, and movie days, just to name a few.
Two individuals recently passed away, and Robin worked closely with the families to help them through their grieving. Robin also successfully helped move another individual into the house, taking the time to know the individual’s family so that she could seamlessly integrate into the house. Robin’s “make it work” attitude is refreshing and a joy to work with. Nominated by Erin Manson.
Jason Mach
Individual Supports
When the state of emergency was issued, Jason, a full-time outreach worker in the Individual Supports Program, stepped up and offered to help other departments. For one task, he was given shopping lists for the Residential programs; he would go to numerous stores to purchase all the listed items for the residential houses, and then deliver those groceries to help the staff out during this challenging time.
Additionally, Jason delivered funding stipends that were issued to the families supported by BCArc’s AFC program. He delivered them personally so that families would not have to wait on the mail system to get these much-needed funds. Further, when a family called BCArc to say they needed items like toilet paper, or baby wipes, Jason would find those items in stores and deliver them to the families’ homes so they could meet their loved ones’ needs.
Along with his warm and outgoing demeanor, his willingness and compassion to help in any way, Jason’s support prevented many of BCArc’s staff from veturing into the stores. Instead, he stepped up to help mitigate the spread of the virus as a point person that people could depend on for deliveries. Nominated by Sonja Stewart.
Kate Ryan
Crossroads
Staff call Kate Ryan one of the most giving people you can meet. She opted to quarantine at the Lakeway program because “she loves every person with whom she works with and she would do absolutely anything to ensure that they have everything that they need, want, and deserve.” Kate spent weeks living at Lakeway, missing her husband and her little dog. She works always with a smile on her face and an abundance of enthusiasm that is contagious to those around her. She ensures that the routine work gets done in the house, and that individuals’ goals are worked on. She keeps them on track, active, interested, and stimulated.
Kate is concerned with each individual’s emotional health throughout this ordeal, so she is staying positive and encouraging. She is helping the individuals living at Lakeway to reach out through FaceTime to their preferred staff from Crossroads along with their friends from other houses. Kate has also encouraged the individuals to let her know if they need or want anything and has then advocated for them so that these needs are met. Kate transitioned from Crossroads developmental specialist to Lakeway residential support staff with such ease. Largely due to her commitment to the individuals, she is a great role model.
Kate just celebrated her one-year anniversary as a BCArc employee.
Nominated by Donna Willams.
Maryellen Lassalle
Site Manager
When BCArc needed help caring for individuals that tested positive, Maryellen raised her hand to help. Her two children didn’t understand how she could risk her own health for work. “I told them that these people have no one else to help them. Anyone of us could be in that situation. If it was my parents, I’d have to do this for them. It could be me in a few years. We need to think of other people.”
A role model for BCArc staff whose actions speak louder than any words, the house she volunteered to help in was not even the program she ran as a site manager.
Pavel Slivka
Residential Support
Pavel lives with his parents. He chose to shelter-in with individuals who tested positive, to protect them. “I’m young, I’m healthy, and I want to help the individuals we serve. They need help. My parents figured if I stay there, then that’s ok and it doesn’t put them in any danger. I would like to keep a close eye on my parents, but they have each other.” He added: “If it was my parents, I’d have to do this for them. It could be me in a few years. We need to think of other people. . . . I’m not doing this for the money, that’s not why you do this. I am here because the Lord Jesus Christ sent me here to love my neighbor as myself. I am a man that believes that only God can protect us and lead us through this difficult time.”
