Our community speaks
In their own wordsAt HHCD our residents and staff value communication. See what people are saying about our community.
Volunteers Extraordinaire
I got involved with volunteering thru my daughter Rosette, and I have been volunteering for years at various HHCD locations. Jackie Holsten is a longtime family friend, and I am impressed with her. Whatever my daughter asks me to do, that’s what I do. Rosette loves to help and give her time – I so admire her.
My family has always volunteered… my mother did so even when she got sick. I have problems with my body, but I don’t let it stop me. I go to the store for the seniors, and I take them to their children’s homes; I rub them down if they are in pain – whatever they need, that’s what I do. I used to volunteer every week, but that’s not the case right now; between health issues and the COVID situation, I am not doing as much.
I have lived at the Senior building at Hilliard since 2011. I noticed that Anisia Kennedy, the Hilliard Resident Services Coordinator, never stops helping others; she never seems to get tired – she is always busy! I do not feel she has to or should do everything by herself. So I reached out to her to help. She works with the kids as well as the seniors, and I love to help – Anisia treats the children like her own children – her patience really impressed me.
We have a Senior Club. ‘The Savvy Hearts of Hilliard,’ and some of them volunteer to help, too. If I’m not busy and Anisia is having an event, or someone is sick or needs something, I need help. I’m 71 years old. It makes me feel good to go out and do these things and to let folks see that you just because you’re 71, you don’t have to sit down! I have lost three relatives to COVID in the last two months. It has been rough, but I keep on going. Helping others helps me stay positive.
HHCD helped her improve her life!
I was at home at Parkside, and I got really sick. Though I have two degrees – in culinary arts and in hospitality management – I was unable to work. I couldn’t get disability; I guess you have to be almost dead to get that (LOL). Once I got better, I tried a job that didn’t work out. After that, I was on housing assistance, but I needed more help; I have two children, one in college and one in elementary.
A manager at Holsten told me about a program called Education to Careers – where I could get an education and get a job. I researched and looked for jobs where I could make the most money. First, I tried aviation mechanics, but that program was not available until the following year. So I decided on transportation and logistics taught at Olive Harvey College. It was a long distance to travel from my house, but I needed the money. Through the program, I received a voucher to pay instantly, so I was able to start right away. Only two women in the class!! The other woman in the class was very helpful to me – she was almost a mentor. I studied and did everything I was told. I started school in September 2018, and I tested out in February 2019.
The bottom line is: the test was tough, the program was tough, and it’s tough being a minority woman in a male-dominated field… but the program is designed to weed out those who cannot be considered elite drivers. I work for JB Hunt, driving an 18-wheeler locally, doing US Postal only … and I worked right through the COVID! I love my job, and I’m making the MONEY!! I would never have known about this opportunity, were it not for the resourceful HHCD staff … that advice changed my life!
Happy to be at an HHCD site!
I was raised by my grandmother and had lived all of my life – 36 years – in Cabrini. Since around 2003, I have lived Parkside on Oak Street, which has been a great experience. I was able to get a good job at the Post Office, but recently my 16-year-old daughter was diagnosed with COVID, and I had to miss work and had no income. It was rough. But Steve from HHCD helped with rent assistance for April. Then my 11-year-old son got COVID, and again I was off from work – he had high fever and hives, was diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia… and had to do remote learning.
HHCD helps out with vouchers for after-school and summer programs. One year, HHCD gave gift bags for Christmas; they also gave food boxes. The social worker, Steve, always checks up … he helped my daughter get a summer job, and she is in the computer lab. Steve from HHCD is truly a blessing!
For the past three years, I have been living in a townhome at Parkside. I have three bedrooms and a yard, and three little babies. It’s such a beautiful thing! It’s peaceful and quiet – I do not hear police and ambulance sirens, and I have great neighbors – I could not ask for anything better. I have central air and a washer and dryer in the unit – I would not want to live anyplace else! It’s very peaceful all the time, even during the COVID stay-in.
My neighbors and I sit out in front of our doors, six feet apart – color doesn’t matter; we all get along. It’s been so beautiful for my kids to see whites and blacks living together. I work with Steve, the social worker – he is just a delight! He is so helpful and caring; just today, Steve gave me a box of goods, including food and face masks – all things I could really use. I am so blessed to be here at Parkside. And I’m blessed for the services from HHCD!
