NEWS

UCP Assistive Technology Program Manager Jackie Wardle bounded into the Community Relations office and with great exuberance, asked “Got time to take some pictures?” Then she proceeded to describe the purpose of the proposed photo opp: to recognize Messiah Lifeways, a local network of senior services and residential communities, for their recent donation of 16 manual wheelchairs to UCP’s Changing Hands equipment reuse program. The chairs were either left behind or no longer of use to members of the Lifeways community. But in Jackie’s hands, they would prove to be life-changing gifts to 16 other individuals or families in need.

Carmen Henry-Harris was motivated to reach out to UCP when she saw the testimonial insert that was included with their recent participant and family survey. The questions got her thinking about how far her brother Ray had come since he made the move into a UCP home. So she decided to share their story.

The rains that fell in April help us better appreciate the flowers that bloom in May. In the photo above, Blair–a participant in UCP’s modified At Home CPS–reminds us of that simple truth.

Recently, I was able to spend some time with Beth Catlin, a resident of one of UCP’s 16 community homes throughout Central PA. Beth moved into the Enola home after her mother, with whom she had been living, was moved to an assisted living facility in 2020. Beth is personable, engaging, and has an astounding gift for recall, in particular for sports-related statistics and for birth dates. She routinely exercises her capacity to remember dates–and at the same time blesses others–by crafting and sending homemade birthday cards to pretty much everyone she meets.