Pictured left to right Sister Mary Veasey, SSJ; Michelle McCaffrey, Divine Providence Village; Jean Calvarese-Donovan, Administrator of Divine Providence Village; Sister Susan Lindinger, SSJ.

Divine Providence Village (DPV), part of The Communities of Don Guanella and Divine Providence (DGDP) and the Intellectual Disabilities Division of Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (CSS), is pleased to announce it recently received a $5,000 grant to support its Alternative Day Program. The funds were awarded by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Philadelphia (SSJ) Mission Fund and presented at a special check presentation on May 27, 2020.

The funds will enable DPV to purchase art supplies, physical fitness items, and sensory materials which will benefit residents participating in its Alternative Day Program located on campus. The Alternative Day Program, which has seen a recent increase in participants, provides a safe and caring environment for residents who do not participate in a traditional Day Service Program off campus.

As a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, all day programs throughout Pennsylvania have temporarily been suspended. In an effort to provide a variation of activity and a change of scenery during these unprecedented and challenging times, DPV is offering the Alternative Day Program to all individuals who typically participate in programs off campus. As such, the funds will benefit a much broader group until measures and guidelines are re-evaluated by government and health department officials to reopen day service programs.

The Communities of DGDP are dedicated to transforming the lives of individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. Dedicated staff and volunteers provide a continuum of care offering a wide range of programming options including: Community and Campus-Based Living Arrangements, Life Sharing through Family Living, In-Home Supports, Respite Care, and Day Programs. For more information, please visit https://dgdpcommunities.org/

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Editor’s Note: Catholic Social Services (CSS) of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia offers community-based and residential programs and services to support men, women and children in need as an expression of the charitable works of our local Church throughout the Greater Philadelphia area. To learn more about CSS programs that serve a wide variety of human needs, please visit https://cssphiladelphia.org/.