2019 Golden Service Award Recipient

Donna started with Nashua Center in 2006 as a Direct Support Professional. She has maintained this role for 13 years. As fate would have it, due to an emergency in late 2016, Donna welcomed Cheryl, a long-time client of Nashua Center, into her home for Enhanced Family Care. Donna was already considering becoming a permanent home care provider and lucky for Cheryl, timing is everything. Cheryl moved in and continues to live with Donna to this day.

One of the most incredible traits that Donna has is her ability to provide both Cheryl and her sons with equal time and attention. As many know, parenting is a challenge on its own, but Donna is capable of being an extraordinary mother while loving and caring for Cheryl with ease. She has gone above and beyond all of our expectations as a home care provider. She has truly welcomed Cheryl into her family while making a conscious effort to ensure Cheryl gets all that she needs, and then some. The bond that Cheryl and Donna have forged is clear when we witness Cheryl’s reaction when she sees Donna, and the feeling is plainly mutual.

I have known Cheryl for over 30 years. Being a close friend of Cheryl’s and a life-long advocate for her services, I cannot put into words what this transition and consistency in care and home have meant to both Cheryl and myself. I have been with Cheryl through many ups and downs, including various roommate situations, and to say that Donna has offered one of the best roommate experiences Cheryl has ever had, is putting it mildly. Donna is thoughtful and consistent with keeping both Cheryl’s family and friends up to date with all of Cheryl’s medical needs. When Cheryl is with someone for respite, Donna is not an “out of sight, out of mind” homecare provider. Donna makes a conscious effort to inquiring about Cheryl’s well-being when they are not together. This speaks volumes to the truly loving relationship that they have and the seriousness that Donna places in her role in Cheryl’s life. She is a model for all to follow.

While Enhanced Family Care has been the most recent addition to Donna’s incredible value and recognition, she continues to work for Nashua Center supporting another person, Beth, as a Direct Support Professional, 35 hours a week. Donna has been Beth’s constant support for over three years now. Donna approaches each day with a positive outlook and strives to assist Beth in being a highly valued member of the community. Donna works hard to ensure Beth has a productive day filled with activities that Beth enjoys. She is consistent with her teaching strategies, but can be flexible when needed based on Beth’s mood or service needs on any given day. Beth has made immense progress with Donna’s support and has handled several residential moves better due to the consistency of Donna in her life.

Donna is the “best of the best” when it comes to the work she does for Nashua Center and deserves the highest of praise for what she brings to this organization and the people who receive our services. We at Nashua Center earnestly believe that Donna is worthy of the Golden Service Award. Donna is kind, compassionate, hardworking and a dedicated person whose commitment and success deserves the utmost recognition.

Respectfully submitted,

Lisa Szewczyk