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Dear Grace Inspired Ministries Residents and Staff,

The year 2020 has been a challenging time for us. We have been struggling to keep the COVID-19 virus at bay while dealing with the economic challenges that this pandemic has created for our business and numerous businesses throughout the country.

In addition to these health and economic issues, we find ourselves facing the critical issue of racial injustice that continues to plague our society. The death of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery are horrifying and appalling. We grieve with and pray for their families.

Thursday marks 57 years since President Kennedy gave his nationwide address on Civil Rights. In this address he asked all Americans to confront a moral issue that is as old as the Scriptures and as clear as the American Constitution. He challenged every American to examine his conscience regarding the issues of racial discrimination and racial injustice. While some progress has been made since this address, far too much has been left undone in the area of racial equality and equal treatment under the law. The protestors who have come together across our nation and around the world speaking out against racial injustice give us hope that “now is the time for our nation to fulfill its promise” as Kennedy called for in 1963.

Grace Inspired Ministries remains committed to providing communities where our residents and staff can live and work in an environment that embraces diversity and celebrates the unique gifts that each individual brings to our community. We continue to strive to have campuses that are inclusive for everyone. We join with our neighbors and the local community in embracing the fight for equality and justice and we pray for God’s healing of our nation.

Sincerely,

Dan McKee
President & CEO

Community Home Services (CHS), an affiliate of Grace Inspired Ministries, permanently closed June 30, 2020.

Unfortunately, several factors contributed to this decision. CHS has struggled for two years to hire and retain qualified staff to meet the demand for services needed in this area. The inability to hire enough caregivers led to a steady decrease in caseload. These factors, coupled with the losses we are experiencing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, have created an untenable business model leading to the difficult decision to cease operations.

We have been working with current CHS staff and clients over the past several weeks to assist them through this transition.

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the loyalty and dedication of Mary Tidey, the Executive Director of Community Home Services, as well as the entire CHS team in delivering much needed support and services to their clients over these past 25 years.

 

Dan McKee
President and CEO
Grace Inspired Ministries

May 1 was the 23^rd day that four  employees were temporarily living at Community at Rockhill, rather than going home at the end of their shift, while caring for residents in the Health Care section who tested positive for COVID-19.

“They’re willing to sacrifice their own family life in order to care for the residents that need it the most,” said Linda Pancio Director of Marketing and Communications.

In the more than three weeks the employees had not been home, they had also not been able to have in-person contact with family and friends because visitors are not allowed for the protection of residents during the pandemic, she said.

Read the full article

Residents and staff at both Grace Inspired Ministries communities – the Community at Rockhill and Lutheran Community at Telford – have helped sew together a safety net for residents, one stitch at a time.

Thanks to these industrious and talented sewers, independent living residents who may need a mask to leave their apartment have access to them. To ensure the safety of our residents and the most effective masks, our Life Enrichment department provided the approved pattern along with all materials. With fabric and elastic in hand, our volunteer team got busy. Thanks to this group for keeping our residents safe and sharing their talents with our communities.