April 3, 2020

Hi,

Hope this week’s note is finding everyone healthy. We are all experiencing such stress and confusion right now, not to mention a great sense of fear. We need to remember that at some point things will get better and we are all here to support each other. The staff and I have been getting calls from our members and families just checking in and making sure everyone is ok. So, with that in mind we have two ideas.

1. Would you be interested in having some sort of Ben’s Place online?

It would be meeting for several hours each day to talk, do virtual karaoke, maybe an art project, and possibility a small cooking activity. Mostly to keep all of us social and healthy. Even if we can’t understand completely what is going on we will at least have some face to face time and feel some normalcy. We would like to know who has access to a computer and the internet and who might need a device. Once we get an idea of who is interested, how long they would like to meet, and who needs a device, we will be able to figure out a fee. We know times are going to be hard, but this will also help us to keep our staff working and able to pay their bills. 

2. We have been offered an opportunity to meet with our families and providers to talk, learn what is available to everyone during this crisis, find out about services, continue to have our workshops and just have that very important fellowship and socialization. This is on a meeting site where we can talk and interact.

Again,  I need to know who is interested, if everyone has a device and access to the internet.  Also, what topics you are interested in?

As of now we will be closed until May 1, 2020. That is the projected date that Duval County Schools will reopen. As you know, start dates are subject to change as our conditions change.

We have a group message app, Remind, and you can keep up with Ben’s Place from this program. I can send group messages directly to your phone and email and you can message too. If you have not received an invitation to join Remind, please let me know and I will resend it.

Please contact me if you have any concerns, issues or problems that I may be assistance with. We will all get through this if we continue to remember to keep the correct social distance, continue with proper cleanliness and count on each other when we need to.

Stay healthy and safe,

Annie and the Ben’s Place Team

[email protected]

904-303-5996