Local Residents, Biz Honored by Great Bay Services

There is an organization of kind, caring, and committed individuals that doesn’t believe in the world’s definition of the word disability  - Great Bay Services in Newington. They have been winning over the hearts and support of local businesses with hard work and can-do attitudes since 1954. Each and every employer appreciates their long, challenging journeys to independence and last week, the GBS staff and clients along with the owners and staff of local restaurants and companies, who employ these well-trained, motivated workers, gathered for a ceremony to honor their hard work and commitment to one another.

Having been a keystone for the seacoast's special needs community for almost sixty years,  Great Bay Services serves over one hundred adults with developmental disabilities from the New Hampshire Seacoast and southern York County Maine. Over the years, it has grown to become one of the most recognized and trusted service providers in the state of New Hampshire.

And just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to help all of its citizens find their passion and reach their potential. Steve Holland, Chairman of the Great Bay Services Board of Directors, and Dawn Lewis, Executive Director, recently took much pride and pleasure in giving out the awards to the following businesses, along with Great Bay employees and clients:

Outstanding Support for Community Recreation: Bowl-O-Rama
Outstanding Support for Community Wellness Opportunities: Yoga Bob at Yoga by Donation
Outstanding Support for Integrated Music Program: Jeannie Russell
Outstanding Support and Dedication: Martha Judson and Doug Abrams
Outstanding Accomplishment in Community Center Activities Award: Stacie Nagy

Community Employment Business Awards: Texas Roadhouse and the

The “You Make A Difference Award” went to Marilyn Dyer, the extraordinary nurse for Great Bay Service’s clients. John Rose, Director of Program Services, introduced the award that was started last year, “This award recognizes the tremendous contributions that our direct support professional staff make each and every day. The awardee was selected by her peers. Marilyn Dyer has been a tireless advocate for the health and well-being of all the individuals we support.”

Beth Gauthier, the Community Employment Co-Ordinator,  presented two clients with Community Employment Awards: Rick Mayo, “A hard working young man that is doing  great working at the Texas Roadhouse. He is dependable and has a great attitude!” And David Barrell, “David has grown so much since he started working. He has become very independent and is becoming an effective communicator. He has a great attitude and loves his job.”

The event finished with the National Anthem sung by one of the clients. Taylor Baxter, a recent graduate of Winnacunnet High School, sings with passion, the same passion he has for many other interests.

Because of the outstanding, community-based work that Great Bays Services does every day, the clients believe that their challenges make them unique, not disabled and that those challenges do not define their lives. Because of GBS’s core belief that  “quality services empower people to be self-fulfilled individuals” not one of them thinks of himself or herself as disabled or dependent. Instead, because of the hard work and dedication of each person who touches the lives of the GBS clients, they choose to describe themselves as: brother, sister, son, daughter, funny, pet-lover, lovable, hard-worker, keeper of secrets, friend, champion.

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