Our Front Line Heroes
I'd like to introduce you to Josette McDaniel. She manages the “Mommy and Me” program at Eva's Halfway House for Women with Children. She and her team oversee day-to-day operations, a job that has grown more complex during the pandemic."I can honestly say that I do what I do because I genuinely love what I do. I care, I want to be here and I want to make sure the moms and kids are not exposed to anything.
"Thankfully, none of the residents in this house have gotten sick. We clean from top to bottom, twice a day." Josette and her staff take clients' temperatures and check for symptoms every shift. Josette has just completed coursework at Passaic County Community College to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. While waiting to take her exams, she is working with some of the moms individually as a counselor intern. "I'm trying to empower them, to show them and help them realize they are stronger than they know. I challenge them to write their thoughts and feelings down. We've also been telling them that they'll get through this." “With regular child care suspended and social distancing being enforced, our clients are doing as best as can be expected. They are with their children 24/7. They're not able to attend on-site group counseling or recovery support groups like Alcoholics or Narcotics Anonymous. They are still meeting one-on-one with their counselors and some have been tuning in to video recovery support meetings hosted by different organizations.” And, as the weather warms up, the children can spend some time outside in the private playground at our Hope Residence. |
Want to do something special to support Eva's moms and kids? Find out how you can help Eva’s during the pandemic here.
Meet Curtis Carson, Eva’s Facilities Director. Ordinarily, his job is challenging – maintaining building systems, supervising emergency repairs and cleaning for Eva’s 11 buildings, spread across three blocks. Now, his work is saving lives. “I take everything we do seriously. It’s busy every day, and now there are the additional stressors, but we’re looking out for our fellow human beings here. I believe in the process at Eva’s, and that makes it easier to stand by what we’re doing here.”
During this crisis, his responsibilities have expanded as he and his team play a major role in protecting the health and safety of Eva’s 200+ residential clients, and the staff who care for them. Six weeks ago he and his staff set up an infirmary and quarantine spaces for clients who tested positive. Now, in addition to regular cleaning, “we have taken on everything from sanitizing rooms with potential contamination to wiping down intensively-used common areas every day as a general precaution. My staff goes daily into rooms where somebody who was COVID-19 positive has been staying - places where most people don’t want to go - We clean them out and disinfect them for the next person who comes in.”
“The scope of our work must go on, even though somebody is positive in a room. In one case we had to relocate someone who was positive, then sanitize the room before we could repair a leak.” He and his crew have had to prioritize tasks. “Some of the more cosmetic repairs have been put on hold, and we’re addressing the more immediate stuff.”
Despite the challenges imposed by the pandemic – including the ongoing effort to obtain enough protective equipment and disinfection products – Curtis’ outlook remains mostly positive. “It continues to amaze me that way that staff, clients, vendors, and donors are stepping up to help each other. It really shows how awesome people can be.”
Inspired by this story? Find out how you can help Eva’s during the pandemic here.
During this crisis, his responsibilities have expanded as he and his team play a major role in protecting the health and safety of Eva’s 200+ residential clients, and the staff who care for them. Six weeks ago he and his staff set up an infirmary and quarantine spaces for clients who tested positive. Now, in addition to regular cleaning, “we have taken on everything from sanitizing rooms with potential contamination to wiping down intensively-used common areas every day as a general precaution. My staff goes daily into rooms where somebody who was COVID-19 positive has been staying - places where most people don’t want to go - We clean them out and disinfect them for the next person who comes in.”
“The scope of our work must go on, even though somebody is positive in a room. In one case we had to relocate someone who was positive, then sanitize the room before we could repair a leak.” He and his crew have had to prioritize tasks. “Some of the more cosmetic repairs have been put on hold, and we’re addressing the more immediate stuff.”
Despite the challenges imposed by the pandemic – including the ongoing effort to obtain enough protective equipment and disinfection products – Curtis’ outlook remains mostly positive. “It continues to amaze me that way that staff, clients, vendors, and donors are stepping up to help each other. It really shows how awesome people can be.”
Inspired by this story? Find out how you can help Eva’s during the pandemic here.
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