Mercy Home 2019/2020 Annual Report

Friends can help you celebrate good times and enrich your life experience. But friends can also provide support during the tough times. Ridgewood Savings Bank has long been a great ally and partner to Mercy Home. We spoke to Domenico Ciaccio, Vice President at Ridgewood Savings Bank, about how this special relationship has grown, especially lately.

To Domenico, the trying times tell the most about people. Mercy Home’s arts programs for youth and adults with developmental disabilities have really been tangible during this difficult time. “Families are seeing their loved ones prosper. If that was my son or daughter – to pick up an instrument and play it – it’s an amazing heartwarming feeling. You really expanded your outreach and engagement,” he emphasized.

As a longtime friend and supporter of Mercy Home, Domenico states that he loves attending our events and has fond memories, especially seeing the residents perform in Melodic Soul. “They pick up their instruments and play so well. It shows the innovativeness of Mercy Home.”

Domenico was especially enthusiastic about our recent virtual Ability Over Disability art show and the way that our art therapists have engaged with young people with intellectual and developmental disabilities despite the hardships of the pandemic.

During the pandemic, everyone has had to pick themselves up and pivot in their daily lives. That includes nonprofits and businesses. With 20 years of service in the banking industry, Domenico Ciaccio has learned that when there is a crisis, it’s time to renew your services. “Just like Mercy Home we reinvented our services.” Ridgewood Savings Bank needed to “make sure that continuity existed during the crisis.”

Looking back, Domenico states that the MLK, Jr. Day volunteer event remains one of his favorite events because of the energy and enthusiasm. Every year, Mercy Home hosts a volunteer event celebrating the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. Individuals and groups participate in painting or planting flowers and beautifying our homes for independent living in the neighborhoods where Mercy Home has a footprint.

Domenico is enthusiastic about Mercy Home’s continued partnership with Ridgewood Savings Bank. Having an impact on the community is important. “You see the great work that Mercy Home does,” like Mercy Home, Ridgewood Savings Bank seeks to “provide calmness to those who are struggling during this pandemic.”

In many ways, Mercy Home seems like an extension of Ridgewood Savings Bank, “like helping people and helping the community,” he said. “Ridgewood Savings Bank has been around for 100 years helping the people that need it most. We strive to continue to invest in communities that we serve.”

We are very thankful for our relationship and strong friendship with Ridgewood Bank. And especially the support of Domenico and our board member, Anthony Simeone, Executive Vice President & Chief Lending Officer. We’ve become enduring partners in a common cause.