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| VOLUNTEERING |
UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY ASSOCIATION
OF NASSAU COUNTY, INC.
| Our youngest son, Steven, was born with a neurological condition
called Hemiplegia and he received much needed assistance from the Cerebral Palsy Center in Roosevelt, Long Island,
beginning with physical and occupational therapy, attending preschool and then, because of
the level of care he received, mainstreaming into our own community. In gratitude for the the help given to us by UCP, I was more than glad when asked to join their local auxiliary, starting out as Vice President and then President, holding these offices for many years. I then became Recording Secretary. |
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| In the photo above, I am about to receive an award from the Council representative for the best newsletter, the very first year newsletters were begun. This was the responsibility I enjoyed most of all. It enabled me to bring my creativity into play, and the positive feedback I received from people who enjoyed reading it was exhilarating. | |
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Every year, UCP has a FESTIVAL OF TREES event. CP members, businesses
and any interested parties decorate artificial Christmas trees of various sizes which are
then displayed at the Festival, where many other seasonal things such as wreaths and
gingerbread houses are also sold. This 2' tabletop tree is my creation and everything on it is "natural," i.e., berry and popcorn garland, pine cones (note the pine cone star), and little birds perched on the branches. There is a white light shining from the middle of the star and white lights spread throughout the tree. I decorated other trees, but this one is my favorite. |
| Because I was frequently at the Center with Steven, I saw the children and adults and cared very much about their lives. It was during Steven's physical therapy sessions that I observed a preschool boy whose parents specifically moved to Long Island so he could attend the CP Center. They had been told he was retarded and would be unable to walk. The Center found that he was very hard of hearing. They helped him with that and worked with him in occupational and physical therapy. Within six months he had begun talking and walking. This progress I could see for myself because I was there so often with Steven. I think this alone says a great deal about what these dedicated people are doing. |
As has happened among many organizations today, members who were the initial core of our organization and did most of the work were ready to step down. But the newer members did not have the time and/or drive to put in the effort necessary to keep the auxiliary afloat. There remained only a few of us who did not want to see the auxiliary disband and discontinue its good works, but the majority ruled. |