November/December Newsletter

NOV/DEC 2021

IN THIS ISSUE

PLEASE SUPPORT CHAI 2022 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN

STAFF CHAILITE RESIDENT CHAILITE VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION VIDEO

SAVE THE DATES: CHAILIFE 2022 2022 ANNUAL MEETING HOLIDAY WISH LIST HAPPY HOLIDAYS

If you haven't yet contributed in 2021, please consider making a donation.

STAFF CHAILITE

Joy Onyekaba winning Employee of the Year, pictured with CHAI CEO, Lisa Brodsky.

CHAI Annual Meeting 2018

SPRING 2021

Joy Onyekaba , has been a direct support professional for CHAI’s Miller House for over 12 years. It is very rare to have an employee work at the same group home for so many years and that is just one of the things we cherish about Joy. She is a very dedicated employee and loves the men who live at Miller House like they are her family.

In her free time, Joy is enjoys spending time with her 4 children and 2 grandchildren. Her family and religious values are both very important influences that inspire her to do the amazing work she does for CHAI. Joy noted that some of her favorite memories over her years at CHAI are the fun staff holiday parties which she has missed during the pandemic. She added: “The staff is always given flowers/appreciation and we do not have to ask for it. The community really rallies around the clients and there are always activities for them to do.” Joy was shown the great appreciation CHAI has for her by being awarded the CHAI employee of the year in 2018. Her hope for CHAI is that we continue to grow and prosper, and all of the clients continue to get their needs met.

RESIDENT CHAILITE

SPRING 2021

Dan has lived at CHAI’s Miller 1 group home for over 5 years, but he was involved with CHAI for a long time before he became a resident. He has always loved the social aspect of CHAI and enjoyed attending Club CHAI events where he met a lot of the friends he still cherishes today. Dan enjoys playing UNO with friends and staff and also really enjoys taking walks around the neighborhood. During the day he attends a Day Hab program at Metrocrest where he is able to earn a check for work he completes there. At Metrocrest his work mainly involved putting together parts for larger mechanisms. In addition to contract work, he also learns skills that help him maintain employment such as how to clock in and out, follow schedules and work independently. We are told that Dan loves Mexican food, the color blue and he has an amazing relationship with his mother.

Dan pictured with CHAI CEO, Lisa Brodsky and residents, Nick and Asher at Reunion Tower

One of Dan’s favorite CHAI memories was going up to the top of Reunion Tower at our CHAILIFE fundraising event, in June of 2019. While he treasures the relationships and friendships he has made at CHAI, Dan really wishes that he had a girlfriend! Michelle Bearden, the Residential Supervisor for Miller, could not say enough good things about Dan. Michelle said, “Dan is constantly in positive spirits and has truly opened my eyes to the love this CHAI community has to offer!”

SPRING 2021

VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION VIDEO Introducing our brand new video for new CHAI volunteers.....

We have tried to capture the fun that is CHAI to let inquiring potential volunteers take a peek. Please enjoy the video full of information, photos and a few of our residents in their homes. We thought it was important to offer a visual to those wanting to volunteer so they could understand what our community looks like, see the activities they participate in and the smiles on their faces in their own environments.

Click the play button and take a look!

Do you have a special skill or talent that you would like to share with the CHAI Residents?

Contact Kathy Schneider at kchneider@chaidallas.org to become a volunteer!

SPRING 2021

HOLIDAY AMAZON WISH LIST Last year our residents received personal holiday gifts from our Amazon wish list. As you can see from these smiling faces, they loved it so we are doing it again!

Click below to view our Amazon wish list of gifts for each resident as well as some things that are needed for the houses. Please include your information in the gift note so that we are able to thank you!

THE SONNY JOSEPH CENTRAL OFFICE OF CHAI 11615 FOREST CENTRAL, SUITE 100 DALLAS, TX 75243 214.373.8600

WWW.CHAIDALLAS.ORG