We are very excited to introduce the talented individuals we recently welcomed as members of our staff. Change can be difficult. Fortunately for us, that is not the case with these women, they have fit right in and are already making a difference in our programs. Without further ado, we present: Lily Bieletto, Phoebe KidsPlay …
Over the last weekend in August, 12 mothers, 13 children and 8 staff members headed off to Camp St. Albans for our annual Mother-Child Bonding Retreat.
It was quite the expedition. Two van loads, five cars, one truck full of food, thirty sleeping bags, four Pack ‘n Plays, and numerous child car seats made way to the beautiful camp and lake.
In the midst of nature, campfires & s’mores, sleeping under the stars, and breathing the fresh air, mothers and their children created dream catchers, played games, participated in a scavenger hunt, made crafts, enjoyed story time, explored the camp on nature walks, went swimming, and enjoyed boating time on the water. Everyone, from our youngest camper (4 weeks old) to the eldest (65 years old), made it home without incident.
We hold this annual outing to give mothers experiences that help build their connection with their children as they reunify, to teach them healthy ways to parent, and to show them how to have fun in recovery. For some mothers, this retreat was the longest time they had recently spent with their children, and many had never been camping. It was good medicine for all; food for the soul, along with a few mosquito bites.
Without a doubt, the highlight of the trip was a talent show featuring the children performing several adorable renditions of various songs. The show concluded under the darkening sky as we joined in to sing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
Thank you for making activities like this possible by supporting our mission.
Those of you who have known New Phoebe House for a long time may or may not know Donna. Donna has been our finance manager (and then some) for over 7 years. Originally on our Board of Directors, we are grateful for the moment she joined the staff. Donna selflessly volunteered for her first year as staff at NPHA. Since then, she has helped us grow in so many ways – assisting our Executive Director with the delicate dance of government reporting, improving our books, and even helping us keep afloat in dire times. Her skill and attention to detail earned us the highest remarks from the funders auditing our organization.
This month, Donna retired from New Phoebe House. 
Donna would never expect us to sing her praises here, nor would she have expected the retirement celebration we threw for her. She has always been very humble, concerned only with the greater success of New Phoebe House. She has been a great member of our staff, and we will most certainly miss having her on our team.
We could go on and on singing Donna’s praises, but we will close by saying we wish Donna all the best in her retirement. You deserve it!
By Rachel Hogan It’s my pleasure as the new Vocational Manager to introduce myself. My name is Rachel Hogan, I have an associate’s degree in Human Services, and a background in case management and Employment Navigation. I enjoy working with diverse populations, especially when it comes to individuals picking themselves up out of a hole …
Change happens. It’s not always fun, but it is inevitable. Recently, we’ve gone through a lot of changes at New Phoebe House. We’ve come to accept all these changes, and actually, are growing quite excited about everything. Here’s a quick recap to keep you in the loop. Vocational Program Manager – a position we have …
