Joe and Lorraine Flamand

Dear Friends,
As any parent knows, having a child changes everything. Having a child with severe disabilities changes everything even more. Kathy was born with Cerebral Palsy and has great physical disabilities.

Finding Alternatives, where Kathy has received support for the last thirty two years, has made all the difference. That's why we are writing to ask you to support Alternatives' very important work.

Kathy was the first of three children, with a younger brother, Joseph, and sister, Debbie. We are a close family, always have been... Alternatives has been a second family to Kathy. She loves going there each day and seeing her friends and working in the local community. Over the years, we have certainly witnessed how Kathy has become so much more independent. She dresses herself, cooks her own breakfast, and insists on being self-sufficient. Despite her physical disabilities, our daughter is strong-willed and bright.

What she enjoys the most, though, is making connections in the community and meeting new people. She currently volunteers at multiple places, one of which is the Northbridge Senior Center, where she interacts with the other volunteers and participates in activities. We owe much of this to the encouragement she receives from Alternatives… coupled with Kathy's own determination.

Aside from serving Kathy, Alternatives serves over 1,000 individuals in 55 residential and employment programs throughout Central Massachusetts. We know that there are numerous families, just like ours, where Alternatives has also made a real difference.

We will forever feel indebted to Alternatives for the type of life they have helped Kathy achieve.

Most importantly, she is happy. For this reason, we are asking you to consider making a tax deductable gift to Alternatives. Contributions go directly to Alternatives' programs; helping individuals like our daughter, Kathy, lead productive lives.

Happy holidays to your family from ours.

Sincerely,
Joe and Lorraine Flamand