CFS celebrated the 2023 Holiday Season in style!
From new York to New Jersey, staff and participants felt the love of the season with great joy.
The Innovative and Advocacy Department celebrated with countless events for the participants to show their holiday spirit. They coordinated a coat drive, which collected to dozens of coats to be donated to Services for the Underserved in New York and Clothing Drive 4 Funding in New Jersey. They also held a door decorating contest and deck the halls of CFS project where individuals could submit joyful pictures of how everyone was celebrating their different traditions – photos were used to create a college in multiple locations across the organization’s offices.
They culminated the season with the CFS Virtual Alliday Celebration, where participants dressed festive and played seasonal games. There, they also named the 2023 CFS Advocate of the Year, Donna Bannon, who overcame a lot to be the successful mother and employed individual that she is today.
In New Jersey – having already gathered together in 2023 for their big Spring Fling – celebrated at each residence and day program. The Hillsborough residents decorated and had a beautiful festive dinner!
In New York, over 100 participants and staff gathered together at The Eastwood Manor for the CFS Holiday Party. Dancing! Food! Friends!
CFS Loop Committee member and Com Hab Supervisor Anndrena Bernard captured the sentiments of the evening, serving as on-site reporter:
- Linda Schellenberg, Chief Program Officer – This party is amazing! This is the first party since before COVID and we have Community and Residential and it’s wonderful. We’re having a lot of fun!
- Tranet Hymon, Director of Residential Services – I’m having a great time. It’s great to get everyone together again.You can see how individuals and staff missed each other. It’s a great turnout and it’s great to see everyone having fun.
- Cheryl from Arlington – We’re enjoying the music, we’re enjoying the food, and every is having a blast. I’m looking forward to 2024 to elevate the residence, everyone moving together in a positive way.
- Meril Brandt, Residential Manager – We’ve missed this, it’s such a nice thing to see faces we haven’t seen.
Special thanks to Tamara Rouse, Senior Residence Manager, and her husband Earl, for capturing the evening with beautiful photos. They speak for themselves! We look forward to getting together again throughout 2024 and celebrating the organization.
