Page 6 - The Clare Connection_Summer 2020 Flipbook

The Clare Residents Thank

Employees for COVID-19 Efforts

E
mployees of The Clare often say the
best part of working for the community
is the residents. This sentiment has
never been more true than throughout
the COVID-19 outbreak, which has
affected the senior population at
alarming rates.
As COVID-19 descended upon the
United States, The Clare implemented
a number of changes to prevent the
negative effects of the virus seen
in so many retirement communities
across the country. New restrictions
were unveiled seemingly every day
to keep residents out of harm’s way, Bartender Jackie Milano and resident David Andersen
prompting employees to react quickly
and adjust to tasks outside of their job
descriptions. The Clare drivers sorted And in typical fashion, The Clare Clare match doubling this amount,
and delivered mail directly to resident residents were quick to step up and employees were set to receive a
apartments. The dining team pivoted to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts substantial bonus based on hours
all-delivery service, housekeeping took of employees. worked from March 1 to May 31.
to religiously cleaning common areas
and high-touch points, and fitness The Clare Charitable Foundation, a The Clare Charitable Foundation
classes and programming went virtual. resident-run organization with the distributed checks to employees the
mission of supporting, recognizing and last week of June, and employees
All the while, employees have also rewarding Clare employees, launched were beyond appreciative for the
had to grapple with the reality of the a one-time fundraising drive. And The unprecedented gesture.
pandemic in their own lives. They Clare agreed to match every dollar the
feared contracting COVID-19 on their Foundation raised to financially reward “Resident generosity goes well beyond
commute to and from work, spreading a donation to The Clare Charitable
it within The Clare and bringing it home employees. Foundation,” Kyle says. “Daily thank
to their families. “When the quarantine began, residents you’s and positive energy that
recognized the additional stress and residents provide this community are
Yet their commitment to the com- what bring our employees back day in
munity was unwavering. Employees hardships the employees faced and and day out.”
showed up to work each and every were impressed by how quickly the staff
day, contributing to The Clare’s overall responded to the ‘new normal,’” says For residents, stepping up in this way
success in the fight against COVID-19. resident David Andersen, president was simply a no-brainer.
of The Clare Charitable Foundation.
“In March, when the COVID-19 situation “There was universal appreciation and “The Clare is a community like no
really started to develop and changes gratitude for everything the employees other,” David says. “The employees
were happening quickly, it really were doing, and we wanted to make work extremely hard every day to
allowed for The Clare to show who care for the residents and ensure our
it is,” Executive Director Kyle Exline sure that they understood what their safety. The residents, in turn, truly
says. “Our employees had to step up efforts meant to us.” care about the employees and want
as they were dealing with not only an Over the course of two weeks, The to treat them like family. We just hope
incredibly difficult situation at work, Clare Charitable Foundation collected we never have to go through anything
but also at home.” $108,000 from residents. With The like this again!”