PAWS for People Community Newsletter: Early February, 2022 |
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PAWS Pet Therapy ... Supporting
Our Healthcare Heroes
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It’s hard to believe that it’s been 2 years since Covid 19 changed the world as we knew it. As new variants continue to materialize, the pandemic seems never ending. Our healthcare workers have remained on the front lines throughout, risking their own safety and that of their families. All of this has taken its toll. According the Mental Health Association, healthcare workers are feeling stressed and stretched too thin: 93% of health care workers are experiencing stress, 86% are anxious, 77% are frustrated, 76% are exhausted, and 75% are overwhelmed.
Enter PAWS Pet Therapy: Throughout the pandemic, PAWS has been called upon by many of our healthcare partners to help their staff with the burden of stress and anxiety caused by the daily fight against Covid 19. It is our honor to be able to support those who have cared for our community and saved countless lives throughout these challenging times.
ChristianaCare recently held Rejuvenation Stations, hosted by their Center for WorkLife Wellbeing, for their caregivers. The stations had art, reflective therapy, chair massages, coffee and chocolate, and of course, snuggle stations with PAWS therapy companions. PAWS teams attended these special DeStress sessions provided at the ChristianaCare Newark, Cecil County, and Wilmington Campuses.
At Nemours Hospital for Children, the pandemic has put a new emphasis on supporting the associates. In addition to traditional visits with patients, Nemours has requested PAWS pet therapy visits specifically for nurses, doctors and staff. On Russ Hornung and Gorman’s first staff visit, a nurse began to direct Russ to a patient room. When he told her they were there just for staff, she joyfully exclaimed, “Oh this is exactly what we need!”
PAWS has also provided DeStress sessions for staff at Beebe Healthcare in Lewes, DE; Cooper University Hospital in Camden, NJ; Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, PA; and Saint Francis Hospital in Wilmington, DE.
The response to these events has been overwhelmingly positive from both the hospital staff and the PAWS pet therapy teams. PAWS volunteers are thrilled to be able to support these healthcare heroes. As for the staff, a few minutes of pet therapy is the purrfect cure for a ruff day!
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PAWS for People Celebrates 17 Years! |
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On February 11th we are so excited to celebrate 17 years of PAWS for People!! Seventeen years of providing hope, healing, kindness, and comfort to our community. It's been an incredible journey of adaptation and growth to meet the everchanging needs of those we visit, especially the last several challenging years!
Executive Director, Lynne Robinson, shared, “Seventeen years? How could that possibly be? It was just yesterday that Boo and I started visiting! And somehow (through a lot of work and love and people’s help) PAWS has grown into a well-respected organization of caring people and amazing pets sharing their time and love and the MAGIC of pet therapy. I’m very proud of this organization, our staff, our teams, and the way we care for everyone that needs us. Boo would be proud as well.”
A huge thank you to our volunteers who continue to amaze us with their dedication and creativity. You have been so influential in helping PAWS continue to provide the benefits of pet therapy throughout this difficult time when so many are experiencing isolation, anxiety, and loneliness.
Cheers to Lynne and all of PAWS staff and volunteers who make PAWS the extraordinary organization that it is!
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Do More 24 Day of Giving Returns in March |
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Do More 24 Delaware is a 24-hour Day of Giving designed to help Delaware nonprofits create new connections and raise funds. Donors can come from anywhere and funds will benefit PAWS programs throughout our service area.
The campaign will be held
March 3 & 4 from 6 PM - 6PM
The COVID pandemic has created tremendous demand for PAWS programs and support within our community. Please help us ensure that PAWS continues to be strong and ready to Do More. Visit the PAWS Do More 24 webpage to learn more and sign up for a reminder to donate when the campaign begins. Thank You!
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Pet Therapy in Action this Week |
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Cooper (Linda Moneypenny-Reiter) provides a warm hug while DeStressing students at Triton Regional High School, Runnemede, NJ.
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Jackson (Maggie Bagnal) provides some pet therapy love to a young patient at Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware. |
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Did You Know?
The Dog Aging Project
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You know how we always say that dogs should live longer or ask why do they have to leave us so soon? Well, there is a study going on that is looking into just that and you can nominate your dog to become a part of this study.
The Dog Aging Project is a long-term biological study of aging in dogs, centered at the University of Washington. Their goal
is to understand how genes, lifestyle, and environment influence aging. To do that, they are gathering information from thousands of dogs across the country to learn how we can help dogs and people increase our health span, the period of life spent free from disease. They will be able to follow the health and aging progression of each dog in the program and determine what factors are associated with better health and longer lives.
They welcome ALL dogs – young and old, mixed breed and purebred, healthy and those with chronic illness. Visit dogagingproject.org for more information.
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Linda Okner joined PAWS for People in November of 2020, with her precious Maltipoo, Thumbelina (Lina).
This Advanced team came to PAWS at the perfect time. Linda was wrapping up a 47-year career in healthcare as a dental hygienist and knew that Lina could bring so much joy to others.
Linda and Lina participate in the PAWS for Reading program and visit with kids at the Terry Psychiatric Center. Linda and her pint-sized partner also join PAWS at many Community Events, including DeStress events and fundraisers. Thumbelina’s size (around 6 lbs.) cannot contain the amount of love she has to share.
Thank you, Linda and Thumbelina, for generously giving your time to spread smiles and happiness wherever you go.
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Kay DiStefano and Abby, her almost 12-year-old Jack Russell/Yorkshire Terrier mix, recently celebrated their 1st Anniversary with PAWS, and they’ve had a rather busy year in spite of the pandemic.
Having joined the organization in January of 2021, Kay felt that it was an opportunity for her and her good-natured pooch to help others. Kay is a retired Cecil County Public School Counselor, and shortly after graduating PAWS OST, she and Abby became a team for the Cecil County Child Advocacy Center. Kay also wanted to share Abby with hospice patients, so she decided to join Amedisys. On top of that, this terrific twosome has participated in many Community Events.
PAWS is so grateful to Kay DiStefano and her precious Abby for spreading comfort and support to so many people in Cecil County and the surrounding area.
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Thanks to our PAWS Partners |
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Donate While You Shop
The AmazonSmile Foundation donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases when selected by customers. Choose PAWS for People when you log in: smile.amazon.com
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