A MESSAGE FROM GINA KOS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

March 17, 2021 – the one year anniversary of the EMERGENCY CLOSURE – when Sunshine Village was forced to close all of our programs, except for our commercial cleaning company – Westover Maintenance Systems.

Through the creativity of many employees – and the commitment of many more – less than one month later, Sunshine Village rolled out a newly developed plan to insure that we were continuing to deliver on the promise of a great day for our clients – just in different ways. This plan, VIRTUAL AND REMOTE SERVICES, also known as VARS, was engaging, informative and very well received. VARS included fun videos and interactive sessions on small group communication platforms like ZOOM and Facebook Live.

In addition to providing high quality services in person, outdoors and virtually, the organization insured that its communication with all stakeholder groups was effective. PAGES were developed for the agency website – for both clients and their families as well as employees – and these pages were updated frequently. Interpersonal Supports were also initiated to maintain connections – including WAVE PARADES and PERSONAL GREETING CARDS. In addition to personal communication through the TELEPHONE, Sunshine Village also created PRIVATE FACEBOOK PAGES.

The agency also spent a significant amount of time considering how to best – and safely – begin REOPENING its sited programs. A comprehensive COVID-19 CONTROL PLAN was developed and has been revised numerous times. Sunshine Village maintains this document on its website- so it is fully accessible to all.

In August of 2020 – sites began to reopen – under strict guidance from the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Although services at VillageWorks, as well as at the former day hab sites in Springfield and on Main Street Chicopee, had to be discontinued – IN PERSON SERVICES are now offered at the agency’s main campus on Litwin Lane in Chicopee as well as at sites in Three Rivers and Agawam.

It is now time to start REBUILDING. A plan is being developed that will direct the agency’s efforts from run from April of 2021 thru June of 2022. This Rebuilding Plan will serve as a conduit to the next three year Strategic Plan, which will be developed for implementation in July of 2022. At that time, hopefully, both the internal and external environments – locally, statewide and nationally – will be less uncertain.

Our VISION is to rebuild Sunshine Village to its $16 million size with 500+ clients while continuing to successfully serve a more diverse population of individuals with a broader spectrum of disabilities. This will be accomplished through the on-going delivery of an array of innovative IN PERSON SERVICES, VIRTUAL SERVICES and REMOTE SERVICES. The organization will also continue working to achieve higher efficiencies based upon investment in real estate and buildings, technology and personnel.

Thank you for your continued support of Sunshine Village, our mission and the people we serve.

Remember – fear is contagious…but so is hope! Sunshine Village has remained hopeful during this very difficult time – and we are now looking forward to BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD!