A Guardian’s Perspective – Janice S.

Throughout the month of December, we are highlighting stories of how we have worked together to be a stronger community and get through the difficult days of the pandemic – together we are Triangle. This week, we caught up with Janice, the guardian of a program participant, and learned about how Triangle has supported her son through the pandemic.

Janice’s son Stephen started at Triangle’s Main Street location four or five months before the pandemic began, with the goal of finding a job. He loved attending Triangle programming from day one, and it was a convenient and ideal option for him. He worked at the Chelsea Soldiers Home for a few months before the beginning of the pandemic, and then he had to stay home starting in March.

Janice was concerned that Stephen wouldn’t be able to get the same level of activity and support that he had received in person. She was glad to see that Triangle’s staff members went above and beyond by quickly offering virtual Zoom-based programming, which allowed Stephen to stay connected with his peers and the staff members he had already grown close to. Janice emphasized how staff members were incredibly dedicated throughout the entire experience and called every day before the Zoom session began to say hello. Stephen likes to join special weekly lunch sessions with Peter Wiese, the Triangle Main Street Site Manager, to chat about a chosen topic or place. Stephen has also participated in a few of the Triangle After Dark Zoom sessions, which have provided him with more of a social outlet.

In May, Janice lost her husband. She worried about how Stephen would manage this difficult situation without having an in-person support network. She was relieved to see how the Triangle community rallied around Stephen and provided him with support and a daily routine. Janice feels like Triangle staff members went the extra mile and was glad that Stephen had his Triangle family with him every day. In her words, the staff members Stephen works with are “hospitable, wonderful people” and she enjoys popping in to the Zoom sessions to say hello from time to time. Triangle’s high quality virtual programming has been important to both Stephen and Janice as the pandemic has continued.

Keep your eye on our social media and blog for more stories of how we have come together during this difficult time. If you want to support our innovative programming, you can make your year-end donation here. Together we are Triangle!