January 27, 2012
From the Executive Director
As I look ahead 2012 is going to be an exciting year for us and we want to share with you 12 action items Lund has in store for the New Year:
January—New look, new website: We’ve already unveiled our new logo thanks to the incredible design work of Harvey|Severance, including a change from doing business as Lund Family Center to Lund. We will be launching our new website very soon with the help of Eternity Web, Linda Allen and Harvey|Severance. Stay tuned!
February: February 9th Lund staff and board members are participating in Common Good Vermont’s Nonprofit day at the Statehouse. Did you know that Non profits make up 18.7% of Vermont’s Gross State Product annually or that the total Annual revenue of Vermont’s nonprofit sector is 4.6 billion dollars? (Statistics from Vermont Community Foundation). Not only do nonprofits help make Vermont a special place they also play a large role in Vermont’s economy!
January 17, 2012
Holiday Celebration
Story and Photos by Cat Cutillo
“Ho, ho, ho Merry Christmas!” bellows Santa as he jingles his way into Independence Place immediately launching into “Jingle Bells” and waiving his hands for the mothers and children to sing along.
Quietly, a few voices join in. By the end of the song everyone is singing loudly, and some of the children are dancing.
“I don’t do it to be paid. The pay I get is the joy. If everyone sings jingle bells and they’ve got a smile on their face, it’s a good visit,” says Santa who has been visiting Lund for the past several Decembers and bringing his holiday spirit to nursing homes, schools, private parties and even jails for nearly 50 years throughout the state of Vermont. Working alongside his wife Mrs. Claus, the duo has made up to three-dozen Santa appearances some Decembers.
“I know Santa believes strongly that there is room for the spiritual and the magical part of Christmas,” says Mrs. Claus.
After caroling, Santa invites the children to come take pictures. Proudly, mothers plop their children on Santa’s lap, each child amusing the crowd with a different reaction: some smiling, some stunned, some even a little scared.
“He always says it’s a special privilege for him when these mothers let him hold their newborns,” says Mrs. Claus about Santa.
January 4, 2012
Birth Mother & Adopted Son Reunion Story
BIRTH MOTHER’S STORY
When I was seventeen and a freshman in college, I became pregnant. The reaction from my parents was very difficult for me. They were totally non-supportive, completely uncaring and told me that I would have an abortion and the “problem” would be taken care of quickly. This was something that I outright refused to allow to happen to my baby. It was decided by them that I should be “sent away” before I became too obviously pregnant. I was not from Vermont but, through a connection with someone at the University of Vermont, it was decided that I would be sent to the Elizabeth Lund Home in Burlington, VT, to await the birth of my baby and to then relinquish my baby for adoption.
I was “sent away” without being able to speak with any friends who were then told that I had gone to another state to work for my uncle. I spent my time at the Lund home not allowing my feelings, emotions and wishes to be known per strict instructions from my parents. This was a very difficult time in my life as I did feel very alone – there were no family members or friends who I could talk with throughout my entire pregnancy. The Lund home was a very safe haven for me and I was comfortable there. I knew that my unborn baby and I were being very well cared for and that was all that was really important to me then. Given the fact that I was being forced to give up my baby, I was glad to be in the Lund Home and not anywhere near my family during that time.
Photo by Cat Cutillo
January 3, 2012
Eye Candy
Story and Photos by Cat Cutillo
The ceiling is often the last thing you notice when you walk into a room unless that room happens to be the infant room at Lund’s Early Childhood Program, which has recently added several new mobiles floating with butterflies, paper birds and gems courtesy of Hampton Direct’s Laura Gibson.
Photo by Cat Cutillo
“Some of the babies can’t crawl yet. The only way they can change their environment is by looking around the room. It’s important for them to have different things to look at instead of just staring at a blank ceiling,” says Donna Walter, Lund’s Early Childhood Teacher. Read the rest of this entry »
December 15, 2011
Turning a New Page
Photos & Story by Cat Cutillo/Lund
Every Wednesday at 3:00 PM Gisele Kloeckner takes a break from her job as the Vice President of Commercial Banking at TD Bank and drives over to Lund’s childcare in South Burlington, where she slides off her business shoes and curls up on the carpet with a children’s book and a group of toddlers.
“It’s a nice change of pace after working at the bank. When I go there it’s very calming and soothing to sit down with the kids and read books with them,” says Gisele who began volunteering in childcare because she missed reading to her two daughters who are now older. Her employer and manager encourage her to do it. In fact, TD Bank sponsors a reading program every summer where kids earn $10 when they read 10 books.
“The bank encourages financial literacy and literacy as a whole so I just keep it going all year long versus just in the summer,” says Giselle.
She’s not there very long. Maybe 10 minutes, but the kids love it and have even been known to greet her with ‘Gigi’s here, Gigi’s here!’
“Even though she’s not here that much, she’s a fixture in their routine. I feel really lucky that she’s is willing to drive and stay here for just a few minutes,” says Lund’s Childcare Coordinator Judy Harvey who explains that originally Giselle had planned to read for 30 minutes but because toddlers are so hard to keep focused for that long she adjusts her time based on the needs of the children.
Gisele says it recharges her.
“My mother always says my two girls are her vitamins. You know what, those little guys are my vitamins,” says Gisele.
And while she’s curled up on the floor with a handful of pint-size listeners sitting around her (or even on her) she thinks of an old friend from high school who she wishes could have received Lund’s services.
“I think of her a lot while I’m there. I’ve not seen her since she dropped out of high school in the 10th grade,” says Gisele. “I often wonder what happened to her. I know that it’s been a tough life for her and I know that Lund would have made her life so different had she had the opportunity.”
Ten minutes later, when the kids have hopped off her lap making a beeline for snack time, Gisele closes the book, slips out the door and heads back to work.
“I think everybody should have an organization that they volunteer with –or more than one. Because it’s easy to be caught up in your own little world and I think when you volunteer and you see other people’s worlds you’re more thankful for your blessings.”
She has also donated half a dozen of her hand-made quilts to Lund’s childcare leaving the tots something to snuggle up with long after she’s left.
Gisele hopes her time at Lund will create even bigger ripples, extending a brighter future into the lives of women who are now at the intersection where her old high school friend once stood.
“I just know that Lund would have made such an huge impact on her life back then. Like they do everyday with a lot of women now, a lot of families, a lot of kids.”
If you would like to volunteer at Lund please contact Alex Brady at 802-861-2585 or alexb@lundfamilycenter.org.
November 28, 2011
National Adoption Month: Real Stories
Story by Cat Cutillo
Parenting was something Kevin and Kim Hamilton had always wanted. Even their chosen professions as an assistant principal and a kindergarten teacher reflected their desires to be around children. But conceiving a baby was just not possible.
“It was really tough. We see kids everyday and parents everyday who shouldn’t have kids. It would get so frustrating and we’d think what is wrong with us? Why can’t we have kids”?
After spending tons of emotions and money on infertility treatments, the Hamiltons decided to look into adoption with Lund Family Center.
“I didn’t go [into adoption] thinking that this is going to be this great big wonderful experience and the child is going to become my own. I went in there thinking we’re settling and this is what we have to do because life has given us such a kick in the butt,” says Kim.
Lund’s Adoption Director Wanda Audette says people can experience a lot of emotions when faced with infertility.
“They went through what so many people do. Some adoptive parents get that sense of anger and frustration of ‘what did they do wrong’ and ‘why can’t they have a child in that way’. The message we always give is that families are made and joined in many different ways and for whatever reasons your family is supposed to be joined through adoption. It’s not going to matter once you have your baby in your arms. Lots of times people don’t believe it until they experience it,” says Audette. Read the rest of this entry »
November 21, 2011
National Adoption Month: Real Stories
Story by Cat Cutillo
Jenn and Todd Belter tried to have a child for four years before turning to adoption. After spending a year with one agency that didn’t work out, they went to Lund Family Center.
“They were such a good match for us,” says Jenn Belter. “When you’re having one of those hard days, they know how to make you feel better. They’re really reassuring.”
Lund’s Adoption Director, Wanda Audette, prepares clients that adopting an infant can take 1-5 years and in most cases the birth mother will select adoptive parents.
The Belters say waiting to be selected was the hardest part. Jen soothed her mind by slowly getting the baby room together and painting a mural on the wall, trying to give herself a visual reminder that a baby would be coming. She just had to wait for the right one.
“It’s so hard to wait, especially after a really long time. It just feels like it’s too good to be true. You’re not really sure it’s going to happen,” remembers Jenn.
After a year and a half with Lund, the phone call that would change their lives finally came. They had been picked by a birth mother and were given just two days notice before they would meet their baby.
“I just started crying. I was so happy. I couldn’t believe we actually had a baby after 6.5 years,” says Jenn. Read the rest of this entry »
From the Executive Director
“Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.”
Henry Van Dyke
“Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.”
Lionel Hampton
“If you count all your assets, you always show a profit.” Robert Quillen
“Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted.” Aldous Huxley
I could concentrate my column this issue on the greater than ever challenge it is to run a human services nonprofit in these times- greater need, tough economic times that translate to fewer government and grant dollars, increased costs. The worry that it will get worse before it gets better. Surely, one could see my job through a “glass is half empty” mentality. Not only is that not helpful, but it actually makes matters worse and isn’t productive or useful. Lund’s work and mission are more important now than ever before and children and families are counting on us to be there for them.
I prefer to think about the many ways that I am grateful for all the good that people are doing to help children thrive. First, I must say, Lund would not exist if it were not for the incredible efforts, support, and work of so many people. Read the rest of this entry »
November 15, 2011
Employee of the Year: Judy Harvey
Judy Harvey, Childcare Coordinator, was awarded “Employee of the Year” at the October All-Staff Retreat.
“This year’s recipient is truly a leader, an innovator, a motivator and an inspiration and yet she is likely one of the most humble people you will ever meet,” said Kim Coe, Director of Residential and Community Treatment, during the award presentation. Read the rest of this entry »
