e-Newsletter

April 24, 2020

A Clubhouse Program of Eliot Community Human Services, Inc. and funded by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health

Employment Heroes By Carrie Endicott

This week please join me in thanking and appreciating members who are providing essential services on

the front lines during this time of pandemic: Megan D, Life Care Center, Billerica; Mark K., Kirk S., and Jay

P., at Stop & Shop, Lexington, Michael W., Life Care Center, Acton; Emily M., Market Basket, Burlington;

Fred S., Crosby’s Market, Concord; Kathy A., Bright View C.R., Concord; Kayla A., Minuteman ARC; Mike

B. at Walden Pet Services, Concord; Nick B. at Stop & Shop, Woburn; Michelle B., at The Exchange at

Hanscom AFB; and Diane M. at Winchester Rehab Center, Winchester.

Kirk S at Stop & Shop, Lexington Megan D. at Life Care Center,

Billerica

When I asked Kirk S. how things were going at Stop &

Shop since the Covid 19 pandemic started, He told

me ,“I know some people are worried, grumpy or sad

when they come in, so I do my best to be as cheerful

and professional as I can to make their experience at

Stop & Shop the best it can be. I am glad to be able to

assist people during these times.” Keep up the great

work Kirk!!

Megan D. recently started her job as a dietary aide at

Life Care when the Covid 19 virus began to spread

across the country. Megan is well aware that the peo-

ple she prepares and serves meals to are among the

most vulnerable from the virus. Her job has changed dramatically from the time she started. “I really liked interacting with the

residents / patients when I first started, but we have had to start doing things very differently now to protect them.” Megan de-

scribes how social gatherings of any kind, having family visits, and even eating together in the dining room is too risky for her pa-

tients. Each wing of the center is now closed off and patients must eat in their rooms now to avoid the possibility of spreading the

virus. She still helps with putting meals together, but now everything is served from disposable Styrofoam containers with plastic

cutlery and cups. Meals for each wing are delivered using meticulous procedures to avoid contamination and are served to each

individual by nurses and CNAs in their closed rooms. While she cant serve in the dining room, she helps out with whatever is need-

ed such as making beverages, snacks, putting away pots and pans etc. Thanks for all you do Megan!!

If you are providing essential services, we want to hear from YOU! If you would like to share your story

with us, please contact either Charlyne, Shannon or Rosie!

Thanks to all our members who are working to help others during this time of need!

Happy Friday Everyone!

As most of you know by now, due to the COVID-19 virus out-

break, we (like many other clubs around the world right now)

have become a “virtual” clubhouse, and are still here for you!!

For those of you who are receiving this for the first time, here

are ways you can connect with us:

Phone: 781-202-3478

Staff is on hand Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:00pm

to help you or just to talk!

Weekly Zoom Meetings: For those who are unfamiliar with

Zoom, it is an easy way of connecting us all together by comput-

er and/or phone so we can meet, chat, demonstrate art/craft

projects etc. as a group! Here is a tutorial video to show you

how to use Zoom for the first time: https://

youtu.be/9isp3qPeQ0E

We currently have five scheduled Zoom meetings a week:

Tuesdays at 11:00am – Community Meeting: Check in with eve-

ryone, member feedback and suggestions and social chat time

for members. To join, click on: https://eliot.zoom.us/

j/710434109

Or call one of these two numbers:

+1 253 215 8782 US

+1 301 715 8592 US

Meeting ID: 710 434 109

Wednesday at 11:00am: Take home Meal Planning and Check-

in with Graham: This meeting will give members an opportunity

to offer suggestions for the upcoming week’s meal offerings,

and Graham will be available to chat about menu planning or

anything else! To join, click on https://eliot.zoom.us/

j/99501363412

Or call one of these two numbers:

+1 312 626 6799 US

+1 929 205 6099 US

Meeting ID: 995 0136 3412

Artwork by Lizz W.

Wednesday at 1:00pm—Job Club:

Hosted by Charlyne! Join in to learn and

discuss: tips for preparing for, obtaining

and keeping a job; Career exploration

and planning; applying for Unemploy-

ment benefits; and also “essential”

working member support/check-in. To

Join, click on:

https://eliot.zoom.us/j/715999013

Or call one of these two numbers:

+1 312 626 6799 US

+1 929 205 6099 US

Meeting ID: 715 999 013

Thursdays at 1:00pm – Arts and Crafts Class: Using easy to find

household items, or craft supplies distributed by the club,

Shannon, Elise and / or Rosie will demonstrate some fun pro-

jects! To Join, click on: https://eliot.zoom.us/j/635974506

Or call one of these two numbers:

+1 312 626 6799 US

+1 929 205 6099 US

Meeting ID: 635 974 506

Fridays at 1:00pm – Newsletter Meeting: Join us to plan and

share ideas on what to put in our weekly email newsletter (that

will also get posted on our website and Facebook page!)

Send us your articles, artwork, photos etc. by email or US Mail!

Shannon and / or Rosie will host. To Join, click on: https://

eliot.zoom.us/j/897628177

Or call one of these two numbers:

+1 929 205 6099 US

+1 312 626 6799 US

Meeting ID: 897 628 177

Is this Covid 19 epidemic / sheltering in place making

you want to drink or use when you are trying to stay

sober? Need support?

We would like to set up a Dual Recovery Anonymous

Meeting on Zoom (Computer or phone). What day and

times would work for you? Please call Carrie at 781-202-3478

x15 (confidentially) and let us know so we can set up with

Steve C., your host!

Check out our new Facebook Page: Interested in keeping up to

date with clubhouse events, news, and notices? We are still un-

der construction, but Elm Brook Place just opened an official Fa-

cebook page, where you can find these things and more: https://

www.facebook.com/elmbrookplace2020

FREE Frozen, Microwavable Home-

made Meals and groceries pick-up or

delivery: If you have no means of

getting out or obtaining food or gro-

ceries, we can help you! This week,

menu offerings for homemade frozen

meals include:

In addition to frozen, homemade

meals, we also have a number of gro-

ceries and household supplies

(including toilet paper!) available for

delivery.

We deliver every Wednesday after-

noon. Give us a call Monday or Tues-

day to let us know how many meals

you need (also if you have any food

allergies) and any other grocery items

you need including paper and per-

sonal hygiene products. We will also

let you know what other groceries

items we have in stock for the taking.

We put together your food/grocery

packages on Wednesday morning for

delivery!

TV show review

By: Leslie J.

Since I've been in semi-quarantine,

I've been watching some daytime TV. I've

been wanting to watch shows that can give

me an escape from the current coronavirus

situation. One show I've been able escape

into is Little House on the Prairie. The show

aired from 1974 to 1983 and won a num-

ber of awards for its music and cinematog-

raphy. Little House on the Prairie is about

a pioneer family that traveled by covered

wagon to Minnesota to settle on the prairie

land in the 1870s.

The TV show is based on the book series written by a daughter of the family, Laura Ingalls Wilder.

The book is fiction that is based on true happenings. The actress that plays Laura is Melissa Gilbert, and the

father is Michael Landon.

I love the acting in this show. I've read some of the books in the series, and some of the episodes in

the TV show reflect happenings in the books.Little House on the Prairie is a great family-oriented show and

can be enjoyed by both children and adults. It brings to life the trials, tribulations and triumphs of the

Ingalls family making a life for themselves in a small pioneer-settled town. Laura was blessed to be born

into a wonderful family with a loving mother and father and great sisters. They all worked hard and played

hard and supported each other to survive and thrive in their adventures.

If you want to watch the show and you have Verizon cable television, three shows air every day on

channel 468 at 4:00, 5:00, and 6:00. I don't know what channel it's on if you have Xfinity or satellite televi-

sion.

I would also highly recommend the Little House on the Prairie books. There are about five of them.

I recently read some of them and enjoyed them just as much as when I read them as a kid.

Happy viewing!

Leslie

Our Coffee Crisis

By Gifford Tubbs

During this trying

and surreal era when al-

most our whole nation is

sheltered in place and so-

cial and physical restrictions abound, I take solace in

that simplest of pleasures--drinking my morning cup

of coffee. Like many of you I can't really start my day

and function without my shot of Joe. In fact, I enjoy

mine anytime of the day. It's my security blanket and

source of comfort. I'd be lost without it!

All of us coffee lovers are like a brother-

hood. We need our caffeine. It wakes us up and en-

ergizes us. It's our ambrosia. Whether you're forced

back to that horrible instant coffee or maybe you are

lucky enough to have some kind of home brewer.

In the interim before you can return to

those fancy drinks you crave - Keep the Faith! Help is

on the way. Be good to yourself and take heart in

the words of one of the earliest coffee poems ever

written, which I have paraphrased for you from its

ancient Arabic translation:

O coffee - Doved and fragrant drink, thou

drivest care away.

Thou soothest him, thou givest health.

And he who sips thy fragrant cup can only

know the truth.

For see, where er'e on earth it grows,

Men live who aims are noble, true virtues

who disclose.

Helpful Links for you! By Rosie D.

Many people are wondering how the Covid 19 vi-

rus might affect their benefits.

Below are links to resources that may be useful:

-Instructions from the IRS on receiving the stimu-

lus check for everyone, including SSI and SSDI re-

cipients: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/

economic-impact-payments-what-you-need-to-

know

-News and helpful links from the IRS regarding the

stimulus check: https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/

economic-impact-payments

--Updated news from the Department of Transi-

tional Assistance (SNAP, EAEDC, etc.) in regards to

COVID-19: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/dta

-covid-19-resources-and-support

Filing for Unemployment:

If you earned at least $5,100 last year with a job

that took taxes out of your pay, and are on tempo-

rary furlough, you are likely eligible for regular un-

employment. Here is a link to help you file:

https://workwithoutlimits.org/wp-content/

uploads/2020/03/UnemploymentPPT.pdf

If you earned less than $5,100 last year, or worked

as an independent contractor (such as Uber or

other “Gig” jobs, you may be eligible to apply for

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). Here

is a link to information and eligibility require-

ments: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-

pandemic-unemployment-assistance

**You can only be eligible for one or the other—

not both, so check eligibility requirements careful-

ly. This can be confusing, so please feel free to call

us if you need assistance with filing for either.

How Telling Jokes Can Help You

By Gifford Tubbs

[Rodney Dangerfield goes to his shrink, and the shrink says, "I think you're crazy!"

So Rodney goes, "Well, I'd like a second opinion!" So the shrink says, "OK, I think you're

ugly too!! ]

Now, more than ever, we all need a little joy in our lives. What better way to cheer up your friends and

family than by sharing a few good jokes. It's a big little idea with a huge payoff. The truth is, by cheering up others

you'll boost your own spirits as well.

One of the big comedy influences of my youth growing up was the TV show, "MASH", with Alan Alda, who

played Hawkeye Pierce. He was like the perfect guy; funny, a brilliant surgeon, great with the ladies, and the life of

the party.

I wanted to be Alan Alda. And I have to tell you with this joke telling gimmick in my twilight, I feel like I

have finally become like Alan Alda. Maybe not great with the ladies, but the life of the party. What made that show

so great was the way they coped with the insanity and horror of the Korean War using humor.

I want you to be the Alan Alda of your life too!! Get rid of gloom! Instigate a good mood! This is a great

idea for an email. Especially these days, anybody would really appreciate a good joke.

Bored and Looking for something stimulating and entertaining?

Here are a few links to inspire you:

Guide on how to make THREE different types of COVID-19 face masks - some involve sewing, some don’t! https://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5btJ0_KTU8

-Host a virtual Netflix watch party with friends from home with this browser extension: https://www.netflixparty.com/

-San Diego Zoo live webcams - watch animals in their exhibits! https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams

-Monterey Bay Aquarium live webcams: https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams

-Relaxing, calming crafts you can do at home with simple materials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpGrtBx7Xy8

-Instructions on how to access free e-books and videos from your local library online: https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-

check-out-free-digital-magazines-from-your-library/

-Guided meditation and yoga practice - check out this channel for more great videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=CqnWMPuyT0g

Have a great week everyone!!