We’re all making an effort to support our local businesses this holiday season – and Norwescap is no exception. Thanks to support from our communities and funding through the CARES Act, we have been able to assist many area businesses in covering expenses related to rent and utilities, website and online enhancements, and masks and other PPE – allowing them to remain open and viable during a year like no other.
LEE Services in downtown Phillipsburg, NJ fills a critical need in the community, providing learning enrichment experiences for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. All of their services are traditionally offered in-person, so when COVID hit, they were forced to close their doors temporarily. But then CEO Lorraine D’Sylva-Lee reached out to Norwescap for help.
“Our business had to close for four months due to the high risk population we serve,” she wrote. Starting in September, they pivoted to providing virtual learning, education, and daily living skills sessions. Though they were not having participants come on-site, their staff were still working full-time and their expenses were mounting – and they needed assistance to pay their bills and ensure they had the online resources to reach as many participants as possible. Thankfully, Norwescap was there to help.
Today, LEE Services continues to deliver virtual sessions five days a week, and regularly delivers educational and sensory materials to their participants. They look forward to the day they can welcome people back on-site, but in the meantime, they are grateful for the support they received that allowed them to remain open. “During this time of great uncertainty, we at LEE Services have been comforted, encouraged, and humbled by the tremendous support Norwescap provides through the work you do each day, and most recently in administering the small business grant we received,” Lorraine wrote to us. “Your approach to serving our community embodies the care and attention you devote to finding new ways to address critical issues, and to your commitment to strengthen our collective resolve to overcome this pandemic.”
We, in turn, are grateful for the important work that LEE Services does in our community. We are truly stronger together!