There’s a framed picture of his mom on the wall, and James is quick to point it out to guests. Beaming with pride, he’ll show you the television, the gaming system and the view from the windows in his upstairs bedroom. Then on the way out, he’ll mention the picture of his mom. The house has all...
He’s no longer a young man, but when Mickey smiles, his eyes twinkle with the pure, unadulterated joy of youth. There’s a light inside Mickey, the kind you can see without ever having to hear him speak a single word. Mickey, 63, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child and is deaf. He communicates through sign...
When the door opened, her eyes nervously scanned the counselor’s office. At 10, she was already cautious and skeptical of strangers. Satisfied that her surroundings were safe, Morgan quietly slipped into a chair without a word. She fixed her gaze on her tennis shoes and the dirty hem of her jeans. Her silence added plenty to what...
Real men aren’t supposed to be bothered by silly things like nightmares. Men of his father’s generation certainly didn’t let “feelings” get in the way of responsibilities like work and family. And yet, here he was. The nightmares were relentless, torturing his sleep. The days weren’t any better, though, because memories of the trauma haunted his waking hours. Alex tried...
At an organization so blessed with devoted volunteers, it’s no easy task to choose just one to honor as Volunteer of the Year. But as we prepared for this year’s Celebration Dinner, it was time to choose one person – a person who for many years, has been doing so much more than expected to make...
The wooden sign reads, “You have changed the world because you touched our lives.” The sign, given to Robert Cole at his retirement party on September 15, was the perfect parting gift for the longtime executive director of Human Support Services. The party itself was a testament to the many lives Cole touched in his 11 years...
She watches as he slips on his sneakers and pulls on his backpack. In the sunlit kitchen, there’s time for one quick hug between hurried bites of buttered toast. She pauses, holding him just one second longer than usual, until he grumbles, “Mom! I’m going to be late!” She grins and holds him at arm’s length so...
Two days. Just 48 hours until school starts again. In two days I’ll be right back there in that freshly-polished hallway, standing there with a frozen smile on my face, pretending everything is perfect. I’ll listen as Madison tells me all about her latest boyfriend, and I’ll laugh when Taylor goes on about her epic Snapchat fail. As...
In a family, when one member is sick or troubled, the others rally together to support and uplift their loved one. The same is true for communities. We’ve seen countless examples here in Monroe County of our community rallying together to support a family in need or help a sick or injured child. That communal selflessness often...
Before Barb Ruby retired from Human Support Services at the end of June, she had been with the organization for 37 years, making her the longest standing employee HSS has ever had. Since she started in April 3, 1980, Barb has worked in a variety of roles at HSS, from secretary to office manager. Over the years,...
