Cathy, a former Direct Support Professions (DSP) at Emmaus, recently shared her journey that led her to become a monthly donor. From 1992 – 1994, Cathy dedicated her nights to supporting multiple clients at the historic St. Charles campus. She emphasized the importance of having consistent staff members for the clients. Ones who not only keep the client’s space clean but would also be there if they wake up from a bad dream and need comfort. Someone who was a friendly face in the morning when they woke up. Once Cathy decided to end her career with Emmaus and go back to college to further her education, she realized that her “job” was seen as so much more than a client-helper relationship, the clients shared every aspect of their lives with their DSPs.

Cathy shared that her time at Emmaus taught her the value of service, the importance of continuity, the beauty of not trying to fit everyone into the same mold, and allowing each person to share their talents and light in their own way. She wanted to be a part of providing a safety net for the most vulnerable citizens, the ones whose voices can be the easiest to ignore. Monthly gifts made that possible.

Cathy said she finds a contribution is a tangible way for her to make an impact on the clients we serve. By making a monthly gift, she can make a larger monetary impact over the course of a year rather than with a single annual donation. Donating to Emmaus is her way of saying thank you for everything Emmaus taught and gave her all those years ago.