This week, our Day Center is celebrating our 10^th anniversary! It’s quite a milestone and I’m filled with pride as I see what we’ve created. You can gather people in any space, but it’s what the staff and seniors bring that give it life and meaning.

Ten years ago, we started our center with about 15 participants on our census. Over the past 10 years, we’ve enrolled over 1,100 seniors from Queens and Brooklyn. Our seniors came here not knowing a soul and now they have a family. Not only do they come here for personal care, health education, supervision, meals and activities, but more importantly they come here to make connections and get social support.

So many people have remarked over the years that there’s an intangible positive feeling when they walk through our doors. Mr. K, 71 years, said it beautifully last week – “age has no meaning here… when you walk in the door, you know that our thoughts and behaviors are appreciated and understood.” The staff have shown remarkable dedication and commitment to making this a reality, and it’s so rewarding to know this is felt by our participants and their caregivers!

I am so proud to work with such an exceptional staff, from our Activity Leaders and Business Staff to our incredible Home Health Aides from Partners In Care. Every member of our team fills this center with a feeling of respect and compassion, and for this I am so very grateful. I would like to also especially thank all the staff throughout VNSNY and VNS CHOICE that have worked with us closely over the years to get our center up and running, and keep it running smoothly. As Hillary Clinton said, it does take a village, and I’m very grateful that our center is thriving due to the magnificent village that is VNSNY.