For the first time in its 22-year history, The Coordinating Center, a Millersville, Md.-based nonprofit that helps people with disabilities live as independently as possible, is asking the public for donations.
According to Karen-Ann Lichtenstein, the center?s executive director, the reason for seeking for public support is that a major focus of the organization has been helping people, who are in nursing homes who may been involved in an accident or suffer from a chronic illness, re-enter the community.
“This particular program is serving individuals coming out of nursing homes,” she said. “These are younger people coming out of nursing homes, who would never chosen to be in nursing homes people and who have tried to stay in the community but were unable.”
While services like a personal care provider are paid for by Medicaid or other assistance programs, the biggest need for those re-entering the community is getting through the first month until a public assistance check arrives.
The center is asking the public to purchase gift certificates or cards to area grocery stores or to donate the cash for the center to purchase the groceries.
This way, Lichtenstein said, a person?s basic needs are met until he or she is able to live more independently.
“We have decided that as a nonprofit we?re unable to pay for that out of our own operational fund on an ongoing basis,” Lichtenstein said. “So we are asking the public to look at providing that small amount of money.
“One would be surprised by the number of people in their 20s and 30s who are living in nursing homes because they were unable to get the care they needed. This program is helping them to get out.”
Lichtenstein said that each month the center is able to help between 15 and 25 people transition back into the community and that its 91 employees assist about 1,800 area residents.
The nonprofit?s annual operational budget is about $6 million, the majority of which comes from medical-assistance programs.
April Montford, a 39-year-old Baltimore City resident who has been paraplegic since age 17 due to a debilitating bone disease, said her transition from a nursing home last year to an apartment equipped for those with disabilities would have been much more difficult without the center?s assistance.
“Once I got involved in their program everything came through so quickly,” Montford said. “It?s been a wonderful thing, especially [having the center] set up my personal care provider, because I really needed one.”
To help
» To make a donation, send gift cards, certificates, check or money order to 8258 Veterans Highway, Suite 13, Millersville, MD 21108.
» For more information call 410-987-1048.
