Nonprofit meets its “adopted” family and delivers holiday cheer funded by employee donations
ALBANY, N.Y.—This year, like every holiday season, a family was “adopted” for the holidays by Consumer Directed Choices(CDChoices), a nonprofit corporation providing payroll and administrative services to seniors and people with disabilities who manage their own home care. However, unlike recent years, CDChoices delivered the gifts to the family in person and took some time to hear their story.
Funded by generous donations from CDChoices employees collected throughout December, the family received a trunk full of gifts for the parents, their son, who has developmental disabilities, and three grandchildren they are raising. Seeing the impact of CDChoices employees’ generosity was profound for Melissa Groves, Compliance Manager, who delivered the gifts along with Erika Sorgen-Bull, Program Specialist.
“Every year, CDChoices adopts a family for the holidays, but this year was extra special because we got to deliver the presents directly to the family and see for ourselves their joy and gratitude. I knew that our staff is full of very caring, giving people, but seeing what our employee donations were able to do for this family was amazing,” said Groves. “Our employees coming together to give what they can to help this family is what this season is all about.”
Everyone is feeling the impact of inflation and other financial challenges this year, and for a family with a person with disabilities and three young children in the household, it was looking like Christmas would not be in the budget. “Without your help, we would have no Christmas, because times are really hard for my husband and I at this time of year,” the recipient wrote. “Our family will be happy now on Christmas morning thanks to your company.”
CDChoices was founded by the late Constance Laymon on the principle that people with disabilities should be empowered to make decisions and direct their own life. It’s only fitting that the organization wants to extend that freedom to a family in need by lifting the burden of buying gifts off their shoulders this holiday season.
To learn more about Consumer Directed Choices and its services, visit cdchoices.org.
About Consumer Directed Choices: Consumer Directed Choices, Inc. (CDChoices), is a private, nonprofit corporation that acts as a fiscal intermediary providing payroll and program administration infrastructure to seniors and people with disabilities (Consumers) who employ Personal Assistant workers through the Medicaid program, Consumer Directed Personal Assistance (CDPA). CDChoices empowers Consumers who receive home care to enjoy greater flexibility and freedom of choice in obtaining services. Headquartered in Albany, New York, CDChoices has supported more than 4,300 Consumers and more than 11,600 Personal Assistants throughout New York State since 1997. Learn more by visiting cdchoices.org.