Dear Editor:
Pathways to Independence moved to l60 Kingsland Avenue in Kearny, formerly Our Lady of Sorrows School. Our programs provide training and work for more than 100 developmentally disabled individuals from Hudson, Essex and Bergen Counties. This move will enable the agency to expand and help many more clients.
All our wonderful friends and neighbors in the community volunteered to help us with building improvements, cleaning, painting and all sorts of chores to make it possible to move into the new location.
We have new lighting and freshly painted walls that look great! But, that makes the old dirty and ripped carpeting/floor tiles and window shades look really shabby.
Our Adopt a Room program works like this: For approximately $3,500 to $5,000 each one of our rooms can be adopted. This means that new flooring and window shades will be installed in that room. A plaque will be placed at the entrance to each of the rooms at Pathways with the name of the organization, business or individual (or combination of them) that have adopted that particular room. One person or group does not have to donate the entire amount.
Fortunately, all the rooms on the first floor have been adopted already and look terrific – very professional. There are eight rooms on the second and third floors still up for adoption. Economically, it is better to install all the material on each floor at one time. That; why we are appealing for donations to this worthwhile program to finish this part of the building renovation. Maybe part of your holiday gift giving could include a donation to Pathways to Independence in honor of your loved ones.
Your participation in this project will provide much-needed aid to Pathways to Independence. We would be happy to arrange a tour of the facility for those interested in learning more about Pathways to Independence or the Adopt a Room Program. Just call Kim Praitano, the Executive Director of Pathways to Independence, 201-997-9371, Ext. 18.
Kim Praitano, M.A., MSW/LSW
Pathways to Independence Inc.