FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aldrich Works with Children and Families in the Easterseals VT Williston Office
Williston, VT, November 13, 2024– Leanna Aldrich, a family engagement assistant from Easterseals VT’s Williston office, recently received the President’s Meritorious Award at the 2024 Annual Celebration in Manchester, NH, hosted by Easterseals NH & VT. Honorees are nominated by fellow Easterseals NH & VT colleagues to receive this award for their dedication to exemplifying the agency’s mission and values.
“When we were reviewing nominations, there was one that really rose above for me, and that was Leanna’s,” stated Maureen Beauregard, Easterseals NH & VT President & CEO. “Imagine a child in a car, excited to reunite with a parent they haven’t seen in some time. Yet, on the way back, there’s the sadness and anxiety they experience. These trips are hard, it’s heart wrenching, and as a former foster child, I truly understand. Leanna goes above and beyond,” continued Maureen Beauregard.
Aldrich discovered that she had been chosen to receive the President’s Meritorious Award, an honor bestowed annually upon one employee from Easterseals NH & VT who exemplifies the agency’s mission and values. More than 40 staff members were nominated across the organization this year, with several receiving multiple nominations from various colleagues.
Aldrich works in Child and Family Support Services with Easterseals VT, which collaborate closely with the Department for Children and Families (DCF) and parents who are striving to establish safety for their children and help families create wellbeing for their children. “I started out as a transporter,” she says. “I bring kids to their Family Times with their parents, and then I kind of change into the role of supervising their visits, making sure the kids are safe and the parents are doing OK.”
Three of Leanna Aldrich’s colleagues nominated her for the award, one of whom highlighted the “countless hours” she has spent overseeing Easterseals VT’s “Donation Station.” Earlier this year, staff of
Easterseals VT’s Williston office transformed a spare office space into a one-stop shop for families in need to take advantage of a wide range of free essential items, from non-perishable foods and household supplies to clothing, hygiene products, and more.
If you’re interested in supporting your Vermont neighbors, in-kind donations are encouraged for the Donation Station. Items in need include non-perishable food items, hygiene products, winter adult clothing, and household items. Anyone interested in donating can contact, Judy Bergeron, Easterseals VT Williston Program Coordinator, [email protected] or 802-734-2137, 426 Industrial Avenue, Suite 100, Williston, VT.
About Easterseals VT
Easterseals VT has a statewide presence, and works collaboratively with the Department for Children and Families to serve the diverse needs of more than 2,000 children and their families each year. They specialize in comprehensive, outcome-driven services and programs to benefit children and their families. Their support services help families create safety and well-being, provide prevention and stabilization for at-risk youth, aid families formed by adoption or guardianship with post-permanency support, and help youth and young adults previously in foster care make a successful transition to adulthood. They are inclusive and purposeful and look to elevate people of all abilities.
For more information, visit eastersealsvt.org or follow @EastersealsVT on Facebook.
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