Open Your Heart to Family Caregivers and the Ones They Love
With Down’s Syndrome and Autism, what could a little boy named Joey bring to our world? Born in our performance driven society where we all tend to judge personal value and importance by outward abilities--how fast you run, how much money you make, what problem you solve. A little boy, who can't talk, can't read or write, can't take care of himself--how much influence could he possess?
We all want to achieve and be successful in life. While Joey couldn’t do most of the things so many of us take for granted, he did something greater. Joey’s short life has reminded us of the power of love and opened eyes to the urgent need for support and compassion right here in our own neighborhoods. What an incredible gift that is! His life has helped increase focus and outreach to better meet the needs of those taking care of loved ones with disabilities or illnesses--Family Caregivers.
Everyone should be aware that the billions of dollars of free care being provided by family caregivers does not come without a cost.
While employers see productivity suffer on the job, our communities feel the cost of fractured and isolated families pre-occupied with care giving. But the real cost is directly on the lives of the caregivers and their families.
Family caregivers are prone to more stress-related illnesses including diabetes, heart disease, and depression. Sadly, Over 80% of families who have a child with a disability see their marriages fail, ending in divorce. Together through respite care and other resources, we can lessen the cost—the cost of healthcare, cost of job related productivity, cost of quality of life to these precious families faced with the extra demands of caregiving.
Don't forget, we all want to stay in our homes and be surrounded by loved ones if we have disabilities or suffer an injury or simply as we age. Thankfully there is a growing recognition that the family caregivers among us need a greater level of support to make that situation a success.
Helping provide support in the form of short breaks, simply bringing the community together in support of family caregivers can make such a difference in these lives. We now have a way for us all to give back a little to those who are out giving us all--family caregivers.
In the very first year of collaborating with Easter Seals, we have raised over $100,000--all of which is going directly to services that strengthen families and help make our communities more caring and compassionate places in which to live.
With your help, Joey’s Gift/Easter Seals can make a difference in the lives of those under stress from the constant work of taking care of their children with disabilities or their frail elders.
Our goal is to raise $1,000,000 over the next 12 months to this cause through individuals, corporations and grants. Your donation will bring more respite care programs like the one in Volusia and Flagler counties to more families in need wherever they might be. Thank you for all you are doing to help us help families survive and thrive!
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