Braintree Families Benefit from HOPe

“HOPe has changed our lives,” stated Braintree parent Rita Dirrane. “Its programs help so many people in so many ways.” HOPe is the House of Possibilities in Easton, which has been providing top quality care and exceptional programming to children and adults with developmental challenges since 2009.

Dirrane’s daughter Sinead requires fulltime care. She neither walks nor talks but has been able to participate in HOPe’s weekend programs for children, teens and young adults (ages 8-21). On Saturdays she goes to Adventure Club, which takes her on a variety of outings. Once a month, Sinead can stay for Overnight Respite (ONR), HOPe’s hallmark program. Offered free of charge to families, ONR gives caregivers much needed respite while their children enjoy a Saturday overnight at HOPe’s homelike setting on the grounds of the Stonehill College campus.

“Respite care is a huge break for us, since Sinead consumes every second of our time when she is home,” Dirrane said. “When we drop her off at HOPe I am moved to tears by the wonderful way she is treated and by how happy the staff is to see her.”

The Dirrane family is one of several in the Braintree area currently benefitting from HOPe’s programs, which now reach people in 75 Massachusetts communities. Since its inception, HOPe has served over 1000 children and supported some 3,000 family members. In addition to weekend programming for children, HOPe offers daily integrated programs of activities and therapies on weekdays for adults. HOPe programs bring clients into the larger community for skill building, integration and recreational opportunities.

HOPe’s Founder and President Paula Kavolius emphasizes that these programs are not self-sustaining and that the organization needs support to enable it to carry out its mission and continue to build its community of hope. She will be co-chairing Endless Possibilities, HOPe’s Annual Gala, to be held on Thursday, June 23, at 6:00 pm at Gillette Stadium. Tickets are $150 per person; all proceeds will go towards HOPe’s programming to foster the physical, emotional and social wellbeing of each person who comes through its doors.

“HOPe enriches so many people, both the clients, their families, and the volunteers who work there getting hands-on experience aiding people with disabilities,” said Rita Dirrane. “We are very lucky to have the House of Possibilities in our lives.”

For more information on House of Possibilities, go to www.houseofpossibilities.org.

For Gala information, contact Karen Santo at 508-205-0555 or k.santo@houseofpossibilities.org.