Will you go the Extra Mile with me?

Dear Friends,

It seems like it was only a few weeks ago that I was reaching out to you to help support the “Virtual” ( a word that I have come to loathe) Extra Mile 5K in support of Annandale Village. As most of you know my daughter has lived at Annandale since 2018.  I was overwhelmed by your support and so grateful, because like all non-profits they needed your support last year more than ever.

The last 17 months have made me more grateful than ever that I made the decision to  have Hallie at Annandale. When we were told that parents would not be allowed on campus my anxiety shot through the roof. I was certain that Hallie would feel abandoned. I worried that with her routine obliterated, not being able to see her beloved Roger, staff wearing PPE, and limited ability to make sense of the world (ie. everything we all felt x1000) she would not be able to cope. I considered bringing her home. I had always worried that they took care of her, but they didn’t love her.  They couldn’t  be completely charmed by her absolutely adorable childlike purity of soul. Who would dust her room? Would her toenails grow until her shoes didn’t fit? When she got so upset that she ate her lanyards would they be horrified ? 

Well….. let’s just say that I learned to LET GO. They stepped up and they AMAZED me. Yes she really did eat a lanyard ( or 2 but I digress), Her room was fine. Her nails were clipped but most importantly it became obvious to me that they had fallen in love with her. I came up with an idea to visit Hallie in my car while she sat in her case manager’s car. Her case manager had become such a primary caregiver that I heard Hallie sometimes call her “Mom” and it would have pained me at any other point in time but it honestly made me so grateful. I knew then that she was genuinely cared for. 

Several months into the pandemic there was a major thunderstorm in the metro area. We woke up to no power or internet, and I did not have any cell service because several towers were down. When I drove a few miles to search for candles and supplies my phone lit up as I got near a working tower. There were several messages with “ I promise we have this under control and Hallie is ok”. A pine tree had fallen on Hallie’s cottage in the middle of the night. They evacuated the women and then housed them at a different building while insurance adjustors and contractors spent months repairing their home until it was inhabitable. This was only the tip of the iceberg as to what the staff there handled with grace.

They had vaccine clinics and got adults with disabilities many of whom are scared of shots vaccinated. They served meals in cottages. They improvised and did their best to keep villagers busy. They dealt with parents like me who were now calling, texting and “car visiting” with fervor. 

So…..I am asking you again to please help support this amazing place. They were not able to host one of their biggest fundraisers last year and their amazing day program was also closed during the pandemic.  Any amount that you can contribute is greatly appreciated and tax deductible. 

Here is the link :  https://secure.qgiv.com/event/account/1120087/dashboard/

Thank you so much! 

Jody

Please help me reach my personal fundraising goal for Annandale Village's Extra Mile 5K to make an impact in the lives of men and women with developmental disabilities or acquired brain injuries. Together, we can go the extra mile and help Annandale reach the $75,000 fundraising goal. 

When you donate to support me, share my fundraising posts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and invite more friends and family to participate and/or donate, you'll allow Annandale to continue to provide specialized support that meets the unique needs of the extraordinary individuals they serve. Annandale's customized care enables men and women to achieve their greatest level of self-sufficiency, and this unique approach to providing multi-level care allows each resident to age in place and truly call Annandale Village home.

Every dollar you donate will help me get a step closer to my fundraising goal, and you'll be helping me increase awareness of Annandale's mission to help extraordinary individuals reach their highest level of independence.

If you would like to go the Extra Mile with me, consider starting your own personal or team fundraising page; or, in addition to your generous donation, register to join the race and spread the word about this special event.

Help me turn disability into possibility…one step at a time!