@TheGuild December e-news |
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We've had a busy December at The Guild! This month, youth and adults enjoyed holiday potluck dinners, house decorating contests, a sensory-friendly Nutcracker performance, and more. We also received a generous donation of holiday gifts galore from the DJ's Holiday Smiles Foundation and a $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation for MetroWest. Read on for more news from The Guild!:
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Happy Holidays from The Guild!
We've had a great holiday season here at The Guild! Adults have enjoyed potluck dinners, house decorating contests, and visits to local lights shows. Students have made holiday crafts, participated in scavenger hunts, and even enjoyed a visit from Santa!
From our community to yours, we wish you a happy, healthy holiday season.
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The Guild Receives Holiday Gifts from DJ's Holiday Smiles
Last Tuesday, Michelle and Donnie Peters of DJ's Holiday Smiles delivered over 50 bags of hand-picked, customized gifts for Guild School students based on their holiday wish lists. The donations ensured that everyone in The Guild community was able to experience the joy of the season with gifts to open during the holidays. Read more on our blog!
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Adults Attend Sensory-Friendly Nutcracker Performance
Thanks to the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism and the Boston Ballet, residents with The Guild's adult program attended a performance of The Nutcracker this month! The sensory friendly performance welcomed neurodiverse guests, eliminating barriers for people with sensory needs. View more photos here!
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The Power of Self-Advocacy
Last summer, a cohort of adult residents with The Guild completed Massachusetts Advocates Standing Strong's (MASS) Self-Advocacy Leadership Series, an eight-class workshop that covered themes like teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and negotiation strategies. Participants joined with peers across the state to further their skills in advocating for their needs in the community. Read more about the program on The Guild's blog and view the Facebook post here.
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The Guild Receives Grant from the Community Foundation for MetroWest
We're excited to announce that The Guild for Human Services has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation for MetroWest! The funds will be used to enhance The Guild's person-centered, trauma-informed programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. View more on Facebook.
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The Case for Sensory-Friendly Shopping Hours
Earlier this fall, Walmart rolled out new sensory-friendly hours for shoppers featuring lowered lights, no overhead radio, and static images across TV walls. In her op-ed, "Why Sensory-Friendly Shopping is Good for Business this Holiday Season," The Guild's CEO Dr. Amy Sousa makes the case that accommodating shoppers with sensory disabilities is not only the right thing to do - it's good for the bottom line. Read the full article on our blog.
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Make a Year-End Gift to The Guild!
The Guild is committed to providing essential supports for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. That's why we go above and beyond to attract and retain high-quality staff by providing wages and benefits that exceed state reimbursed rates, professional development opportunities, and educational assistance.
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Your support is vital to maintain these benefits, and this year, you can make an even greater impact: all donors will have the opportunity to have their gift matched! If you've never donated to The Guild's annual appeal before, your donation will be matched (up to $1,000). If you have donated to the appeal in the past and double your most recent gift, that increase will be matched (up to $1,000). Donate on our website here!
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The Guild for Human Services
521 Virginia Road
Concord, MA 01742
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Looking for more great content? Check out our blog — featuring stories on The Guild’s community, individuals' successes, activities and more!
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