It is over one year since we temporarily halted our in-person services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. No one imagined that we would be on this long journey to a “new normal” and how much impact it would have on us.

Friendship House has made a serious commitment to lead the path forward to safely provide in-person services. During the spring and summer of 2020, we worked on a reopening plan and made building modifications, procured personal protective equipment for staff and members and developed detailed safety protocols and procedures.

Looking back to July and our first on-site testing provided by Bergen New Bridge Medical Center (BNBMC), we are thankful that we could have this coordinated effort every two to three weeks to ensure the safety of our staff and members and allow us a comfort level for resuming our in-person services.

Through Out the fall, we provided hybrid services at our programs until the second spike hits. The Division of Developmental Disabilities (ODD) closed day programs to in-person services on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and all direct care staff for our programs transitioned to remote services by early December.

January was a very big month for us. With the support of BNBMC, about 50% of our staff had received their second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. By the end of February, we resumed in-person services for some of our members. A recent major milestone for us was April 21st when BNBMC held an on-site Vane Clinic at Friendship House. 100+ staff, members, volunteers and families received their first shot that day. Also, the end of April, DOD approved the return to in-person services.

May brought more good news as many members returned to in-person services at our Adults with Autism Day Programs. On May 17” our program in Wayne had their first members on-site for in-person services and on May 19″ everyone vaccinated on April 21” received their second shot!

A Big Thank You to Debbie Visconi, President and CEO at BNBMC and Donnalee Corrieri, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer of BNBMC and Friendship House Trustee. Without you and all the staff at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, our COVID-19 journey would have looked very different.