St. Valentine's Day: love starts with dignity and dignity starts with a name...like Skip!

St. Valentine’s Day is usually about celebrating the love we have for people close to us. And all love starts with a deep appreciation of the dignity of the beloved, whether they be a spouse, sweetheart, classmate or friend.

Fifty years ago Gary Hudson, the founder of Community Entry Services, had a dream of treating institutionalized adults with intellectual and physical disabilities with dignity as beloved friends and neighbors.

Dignity starts with a name. Like “Skip”, who has been served by the Lander program for over twenty years! 

Skip has an office in the Hudson Center and loves to joke around with staff, clients and visitors.

Skip was born in the 1940s with mild cognitive disabilities. Rather than keep him home, his parents insisted that he go to school. They placed him in the Iowa State School where he learned to read, write, play musical instruments and numerous other living skills. He thrived there until the age of eighteen when he left the school to integrate into the Sioux City community and was steadily employed for many years.

For decades his parents and relatives supported him as he worked at various cleaning or factory jobs and lived in his own apartment next door. Eventually as the decades passed only one relative is left and so Skip needed a new place where he could stay with people who would treat him with dignity and provide the care he needed.

That’s when they heard about Gary Hudson's vision for a place where adults with intellectual disabilities could be treated like the friends and neighbors that they are.

Today Skip lives in a group home in Lander, WY run by Community Entry Services and spends his days at our Hudson Center where he helps as a receptionist or spends time reading and bringing cheer to other clients. If you have the chance to visit he’ll greet you with his characteristic warm smile and a friendly “Hello!” that makes visitors and friends feel welcome.

Skip lights up the room with his smile and joy.

The personalized care from devoted staff have helped him bloom as an individual and remain healthy. He is living a dignified and full life thanks to the generosity of the folk who helped Gary Hudson's vision come true. Like you!

This year we’re celebrating the 50th year of this vision here in Fremont County where around 110 of our neighbors and relatives are cared for 24/7/365 by a small army of caregivers who work in shifts around the clock to provide dignified and personalized care for each person like Skip! 

In today’s uncertain times, your ongoing financial support is greatly appreciated! 

We are able to provide dignity, love and extracurricular activities for our clients thanks to the private support of thousands of friends across WY and, in not a few cases, other states because love has no boundaries.

This St. Valentine’s Day, remember Skip and the other clients with a gift today.

Gratefully,

Joseph Stong, PhL

Director of Communications & Development

jstong@ces-usa.org