When we talk about community, we mean much more than taking the clients out to football games, Broadway shows, or tropical islands (although, don’t get us wrong, those are some wonderful aspects of our community experience). However, beyond the community outings, we have been involved in countless community partnerships and relationships throughout the years. We are intentional about both engaging with the organizations in our local communities and about giving back in whatever capacity we can. Enter the Cornerstone Project.

Each semester, a handful of the Occupational Therapy students at our Livingston location complete a project directed by Alyson, our COTA/Developmental Disabilities Specialist. Alyson is an incredible member of our team, focusing much of her time on our DDD client population and coming up with creative ways to keep them involved and engaged. Here’s how her student projects work: throughout the week, Activity Specialists lead our DDD clients in their respective rooms through different themes such as life skills, art therapy, science, and fitness. (You can always view and download our full Enrichment newsletter and schedule under the News and Events tab at any time to learn more.) For the end of the semester project the OT students must choose a DDD theme for their project, design a task and presentation, find an Activity Specialist to coordinate with, and then facilitate the group themselves.

For her project, Shayna decided to make winter care packages for a local homeless shelter located in Morristown, NJ called the Cornerstone House; it’s a homeless shelter that currently cares for 23 individuals. After choosing the Life Skills theme and coordinating with our Activity Specialist Latisha, Shayna reached out to the Cornerstone House to see what the shelter needed the most. She then ordered scarves, hats, gloves, and bags for the DDD clients to assemble as care packages, along with a snowman craft and handwritten card wishing a happy new year and happy holidays.

According to Alyson, this was far and away the best project from a student to date. Shayna was able to involve the local community in a way that made an impact in the lives of others while simultaneously leading the DDD clients through a day of giving back and creating something meaningful – and having fun while doing it. It was obvious how much thought Shayna put into her project and how much this personally meant to her, but just as important was the way she was able to incorporate OT therapy into her group and utilize all the skills she’s learned during her semester at UI Rehab.

Selfishly, the most difficult part of having these students here each semester is watching them go. Each of them leaves their mark behind in their own unique way, but we love knowing that there are people like Shayna finding her purpose in this field. Thank you to Shayna, Alyson, Latisha, and all the DDD staff who helped to make this project a reality – and of course, the clients! They did all the work.

No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.

Charles Dickens