by Jeff Surdej | Nov 17, 2023 | Press Releases
Community Services for Every1 is excited to launch its annual holiday fundraiser- Adopt a Family! The yearly drive brings together local businesses and community members to help support families who receive services from our agency. This winter there are more than 90 families up for “holiday adoption”, a 20% increase from just last year. Anyone interested in shopping and supporting our families can visit https://adoptafamily23.givesmart.com. The site is set up to view family’s needs and provide a quick and easy experience for donors to select a family to adopt.
Additionally, Community Services for Every1 is also accepting individual item donations, including but not limited to kitchen wares, towels, bedding, and winter gear. These items will directly benefit people we support. The Agency is also accepting monetary donations through the platform. Anyone looking to donate individual items can drop them off at our agency headquarters at 180 Oak Street, Buffalo on or before Friday, December 15, 2023, between the hours of 7:30am-4:30pm, Monday – Friday.
Community Services for Every1 would like to thank Bellreng Towing and Automotive for sponsoring the program and providing totes for gift delivery as well as collecting donated goods throughout our community. The agency is grateful to every person and business who come together, each winter for Adopt a Family – be it through volunteering their time, adopting a family, or donating, Buffalo truly is the city of good neighbors.
by Jeff Surdej | Oct 10, 2023 | Press Releases
Community Services for Every1, a local nonprofit dedicated to empowering people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, is grateful to announce a grant of $150,000 from the Golisano Foundation to help towards construction and buildout of the Lyceum Community Empowerment Center. The Center will annually enable over 200 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to accomplish personal goals for employment, independence, wellness, and inclusion. The Golisano Foundation is one of the nation’s largest foundations dedicated to supporting programs for people with intellectual disabilities.
“We are so grateful to the Golisano Foundation for this generous grant, which will help us expand into the East Buffalo Broadway-Bailey community and address unmet needs for programming, supports, and services within that area,” said Mindy Cervoni, Community Services for Every1 President & CEO.
The Lyceum Community Empowerment Center is a new East Buffalo community learning space, a hub within Apartments at the Lyceum, a 42-unit affordable housing complex. The building is currently undergoing renovation involving the historic adaptive reuse of the former Catholic school and community center, commonly known as the St. John Kanty Lyceum. Constructed in the early 1930s, the Lyceum has essentially fallen in disuse since the Parish school closed in 1990. The Lyceum Community Empowerment Center will provide accommodating, adaptable, and accessible learning spaces; that will create flexible culinary/wellness education environments that will cater to the interests and needs of people of all abilities. The project will also create a multi-purpose classroom for small group instruction; an activity room for larger recreational events; a teaching kitchen for culinary instruction; and a community garden for therapeutic and recreational gardening. The center is due to open in early 2024.
Community Services has operated since 1989, working to support and empower Western New Yorkers of all abilities. Anyone wishing to donate to the Lyceum Community Empowerment Center can visit lyceumspace.givesmart.com. For media inquiries please contact Kelly Kinderman at kkinderman@csevery1.com or 716-883-8888 x 143.
Our Mission at Community Services is to partner with individuals of all abilities to reach their fullest potential, protecting their rights and promoting their independence and inclusion in our community.
The Golisano Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the U.S. dedicated to making the world a better place for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Foundation is devoted to opening doors to opportunity, changing negative perceptions and stereotypes, and forging unprecedented partnerships to ensure individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have pathways to personal dignity, independence, and the best possible expression of their abilities and talents throughout their lifetimes. Founded in 1985 by Tom Golisano—entrepreneur, philanthropist, civic leader, and founder of Paychex, Inc. —the Foundation “imagines the possibilities,” advocating for families, fighting for their dignity, and giving people with IDD the opportunity to thrive in their communities. With more than $60 million in gross assets, it awards about $3 million annually to non-profit organizations in Western New York and Southwest Florida.
by Jeff Surdej | Sep 10, 2023 | Press Releases
Community Services for Every1 is grateful to The John R. Oishei Foundation for its recent award of $99,706 towards construction and buildout of the Lyceum Community Empowerment Center. The Lyceum Community Empowerment Center is a new East Buffalo community learning space, a hub within Apartments at the Lyceum, a 42-unit affordable housing complex. The building is currently undergoing renovation involving the historic adaptive reuse of the former Catholic school and community center, commonly known as the St. John Kanty Lyceum. Constructed in the early 1930s, the Lyceum has essentially fallen in disuse since the Parish school closed in 1990.
The Lyceum Community Empowerment Center will provide accommodating, adaptable, and accessible learning spaces; that will create flexible culinary/wellness education environments that will cater to the interests and needs of people of all abilities. The project will also create a multi-purpose classroom for small group instruction; an activity room for larger recreational events; a teaching kitchen for culinary instruction; and a community garden for therapeutic and recreational gardening. The center will annually empower both tenants of the Lyceum and over 200 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to accomplish personal goals for employment, independence, wellness, and inclusion. The center is due to open in early 2024.
“We established the Lyceum Community Empowerment Center to expand our sought-after services for people of all abilities. The innovative supports provided at this center will help people develop their personal goals. This funding is critical in allowing us to meet the needs and help as many of our neighbors as possible,” said Mindy Cervoni, Community Services for Every1 President & CEO.
The John R. Oishei Foundation enhances the economic vitality and quality of life for the Buffalo Niagara region through grantmaking, leadership and network building. For more information about The John R. Oishei Foundation, visit www.oishei.org.
Community Services has operated since 1989, working to support and empower Western New Yorkers of all abilities. Anyone wishing to donate to the Lyceum Community Empowerment Center can visit lyceumspace.givesmart.com. For media inquiries please contact Kelly Kinderman at kkinderman@csevery1.com or 716-883-8888 x 143.
Our Mission at Community Services is to partner with individuals of all abilities to reach their fullest potential, protecting their rights and promoting their independence and inclusion in our community.
by Jeff Surdej | Jul 6, 2023 | Press Releases
Community Services for Every1 extends its deepest thanks to National Grid for extending our Easy Eats for Every1 Culinary Camps into 2024. Our culinary camps help teens discover healthy eating, healthy cooking, and healthy living skills that fit their current and future lives. Thanks to the generosity of National Grid, these camps are free and open to anyone teen or pre-teen ages 10-18, regardless of their ability.
Specifically, National Grid’s generous donation of $10,000 will fund 16 camps in 2024. Their previous donation of $8,500 will continue to fund 13 camps in 2023. To date these camps have hosted 170 participants from all over Western New York, including 14 local high schools and homeschooled youth.
“National Grid appreciates the opportunity to work in our communities and knows the importance of investing in area children to help them achieve their goals,” said National Grid Regional Director Ken Kujawa. “This kind of investment provides support that Community Services for Every1 needed to continue their program, as together, we look to make a difference for kids who are learning skills that can last a lifetime.”
“We are so grateful for National Grid’s contribution to continue this amazing program. Attending campers will be able to continue to not only grow their culinary abilities, but also develop life skills and strong friendships that will benefit them for years to come while bringing home healthy food and recipes to their families. Thank you, National Grid, and thank you to our Community Services team for working tirelessly to grow the culinary camps over the past few years,” said Community Services for Every1 President and CEO Mindy Cervoni.
“Cooking is a fundamental life skill that these young people are walking away with. Our camps also inspire students to explore their creativity through cooking. It has been incredible to see the student’s growth throughout each camp, and I am so thankful to be able to continue them,” said Community Services for Every1 Culinary Arts Manager Stephanie DiCarlo.
Camps often run during school breaks and periodically over the summer. Anyone interested in registering their child for camp can visit csevery1.com/easy-eats-for-every1 or can contact info@csevery1.com. For media inquiries please contact Amanda Berg at aberg@csevery1.com or 716-883-8888.
Our Mission at Community Services is to partner with individuals of all abilities to reach their fullest potential, protecting their rights and promoting their independence and inclusion in our community.
by Jeff Surdej | Dec 29, 2020 | Covid-19
As of 12/29/2020 Community Services is modifying the protocol on home visits (to family homes and in IRAs). Please read below for specific guidelines.
We implemented the visit pause based on an abundance of caution for those we support and the wish to keep people healthy and safe. At the time the pause went into effect we had a significant number of positive cases among our IRA’s and Erie County rates had increased as well. We continue to follow OPWDD, CDC and local Health Department guidance and evaluate the agency status weekly.
As the Erie County rates continue to decrease, they are still over 5%. We have seen a significant reduction of positive cases among our IRA’s and we attribute that to the pause on home visitations.
We recognize the desire to be with family, especially during the Holiday’s and we appreciate your understanding and willingness to work with us. Therefore, we are modifying our family visitation protocols to allow for pre-planned, day-time visits. We believe that prolonged overnight visits, would become difficult to manage and place those we support at greater risk.
It remains priority to keep your loved ones safe and healthy therefore, while we are modifying the pause of family visitation, we are doing so with specific guidelines in place.
Managers are responsible for completing pre-screening prior to the visit to the IRA or to the family home.
Screening questions include:
- Do you have any symptoms of COVID to include, but not limited to: cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell? Upon arrival your temperature will be taken.
- Have you come in contact with anyone who has had symptoms of COVID (see above) and/or been to a “designated quarantined state” as identified by the NYDOH in the last 14 days?
- If you have been instructed to self-quarantine by the Department of Health (DOH), Center for Disease Control (CDC) or their medical provider in the last 14 days?
- Have you come in contact with anyone under a DOH quarantine in the last 14 days.
Screening Determination:
If you respond with a YES to ANY of the above questions, we cannot allow the visit to take place at this time.
Additional Safeguards:
Individuals may participate in home and family visits if there is reasonable assurance obtained that appropriate risk mitigation strategies are in place and that those, they are visiting do not have a confirmed nor suspected case of COVID-19.
Appropriate risk mitigation includes social distancing, use of masks or other face coverings when tolerated, as well meticulous attention to hand washing, proper cleaning and disinfection.
Home visits must be pre-planned and approved of by the Director or Assistant Director of Residential Services. Again, with this modification to our protocol we are allowing for daytime visits for now. We will continue to adhere to CDC, OPWDD, and local Health Department guidance, monitor rates in the County and within our agency and re-visit our protocols as necessary.
Upon leaving the site, families should remember risk mitigation strategies, as stated above, and that exposure to members of different household and to public places should be done with caution and on a limited basis. See “Family Guidance for In-Home and Off-Site Visits” that includes best practices to implement these risk mitigation strategies.
If your loved one resides in an IRA where there is a positive case, and/or if someone is exhibiting signs of symptoms of COVID-19 and/or if someone was in close contact/exposed to someone with COVID-19 and/or the site is in quarantine, we must pause the home visit until the quarantine or isolation period has ended as directed by the New York State.
Managers will be reaching out to touch base on your family’s specific situations.
General questions can be sent to COVID19@csevery1.com.
by Jeff Surdej | Dec 28, 2020 | Covid-19
Please be advised, IRA visitation remains PAUSED (as announced on 11/12/2020) out of an abundance of caution for both those we support and our employees. This includes family visits to your home as well as visits at the IRA. We made this decision due to the rapid community spread of COVID-19 and a way to mitigate the spread among our group settings. It’s important to protect your loved one, you and our employees.
Please know that we have made this decision with the best interest of all involved.
by Jeff Surdej | Dec 23, 2020 | Covid-19
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
As you are likely aware, the first doses of the long-awaited vaccine against COVID-19 have made their way to New York State. On December 14, Sandra Lindsay, an ICU nurse from Queens, made history as the first person in the United States to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. All of us at OPWDD are grateful that a vaccine that can help protect the people we support, and our staff who care for them, is now in sight.
Governor Cuomo has announced a phased-in approach to vaccine distribution and people with developmental disabilities living in congregate settings, and the staff who care for them, will be among the first to receive the vaccine in Phase 1 of the distribution. You can find more information about the phased-in approach to vaccine distribution here. https://link.zixcentral.com/u/fc2944a2/VvBF8alA6xGG8XvtCmwmKA?u=https%3A%2F%2Fforward.ny.gov%2Fcovid-19-vaccine-distribution
At this time, I’d like to alert you to some materials we have made available to help you understand the vaccine distribution process and what it means for you. These include a video explaining the vaccine and a plain language document. All the materials about the COVID-19 vaccine will be found on the OPWDD COVID-19 webpage, including a copy of the NYS Department of Health Screening and Consent Form for COVID-19. As new guidance becomes available related to the vaccination process, it will also be posted on that page.
While plans for distributing the vaccine are underway and are moving quickly, a lot needs to happen to ensure success. First, I would like to emphasize that the more people who are offered the vaccine and choose to take it, the better the public health outcome will be. As valued members of our OPWDD community, I appeal to each and every one of you to help educate others about the importance of vaccination and do your part to encourage widespread vaccination. Each person eligible for vaccination will need to consent to being vaccinated. OPWDD will soon be issuing guidance on the consent process and will be sharing it via our email delivery system and on our website.
While the vaccine’s arrival in New York is welcome news, please remember that the threat of COVID-19 is far from over. The vaccine may not prevent people from catching COVID-19 and does not protect against any other viruses, but people who are vaccinated are much less likely to become sick after the vaccine. And if they do catch COVID-19 after vaccination, they are much less likely to feel sick or die as a result of this virus.
As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have warned repeatedly, COVID-19 can spread anywhere, even places where you feel safe, like your home. Please continue to follow public health guidance by staying at least 6 feet away from other people, washing your hands frequently, wearing a mask when you are in the presence of other people and avoiding crowds both small and large. If we take every precaution available to us, we will have the best chance of staying safe from this extremely contagious virus.
Please be certain that you are signed up for OPWDD updates. It is the quickest and best way to stay up to date about COVID-19 and all OPWDD news. Sign up here.
Please stay safe,
Theodore Kastner, M.D., M.S.
Commissioner
by Jeff Surdej | Nov 23, 2020 | Covid-19
Read a message from OPWDD regarding the COVID-19 vaccine.
OPWDD Message
by Jeff Surdej | Nov 12, 2020 | Covid-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, I want to reassure you that our priorities remain the same, the safety and health of the people we support, as well as all our employees.
It takes each and every one of us to limit and contain the spread of COVID19, which can have serious effects on your loved one, others they share programs with, our staff and your family.
We have decided to temporarily pause family visits to your home as well as visits at the IRA. Each family has their own unique situation; therefore, mangers will be reaching out to you to discuss your loved ones situation.
We made this decision due to the rapid community spread of COVID19. Many of our locations are in the 5%-11% positive rate of COVID19. It’s important to protect your loved one, you and our employees.
Please know that we have made this decision with the best interest of all involved.
Guidance continues to change almost daily between NYS, County and OPWDD.
Community Services for Every1 continues to monitor COVID-19 exposure and our region’s numbers of positive cases and hospitalizations. We have been operating in a proactive manner with a range or precautionary measures since early spring. As there have been recent spikes in positive cases in our Western New York region, please remain advised that progression, pause or reversal of our phases of program opening/operations and protocols will be determined by our team, based on continual monitoring and regulatory guidance.
Please visit our website at www.csevery1.com and click on the RED COVID19 Information button for latest guidance. Please also utilize our COVID19 designated mailbox for questions at COVID19@csevery1.com or call 716-883-8888, EXT 707.
by Jeff Surdej | Nov 10, 2020 | Covid-19
As you may be aware, yesterday 11/9/2020, Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a large portion of Erie County as a “Yellow Zone” according to his Micro Cluster Initiative to reduce the spread of COVID19.
What does this mean for your loved one who receives support from Community Services for Every1:
The safety of your loved one is our priority. We are continuing our diligence by wearing masks or face coverings, utilizing proper hand hygiene and ensuring our homes and buildings are clean and disinfected regularly.
OPWDD is recommending weekly testing of our employees and those we support while in the designated Yellow Zone. While this is not a requirement, we have communicated that proactive testing is available to our staffing and your loved one.
There is no cost associated with testing if people go through the Department of Health testing sites. If they choose to go elsewhere, they may be charged a fee, this fee will not be reimbursed by the agency. Therefore, we have suggested people go to the following link https://www2.erie.gov/health/index.php?q=covid-19-testing-information or call the Dept. of Health directly to request testing based on the cluster initiative 716-858-2929.
Our staff will assist your loved one as necessary with obtaining proactive testing.
