Posted 1/16/2026
Precious Paws Clinic
Matt, Louis, John, Eric, and the staff from Branchton Road kicked off the new year by volunteering at Precious Paws Animal Clinic in Franklin, PA. They jumped right in, lending a helping hand by opening packages, folding laundry, washing food bowls, and putting some serious elbow grease into cleaning a room to prepare for an upcoming vaccination clinic.
And of course, the highlight of the day was spending quality time bonding with the animals. Eric even made a special new friend and they’re already looking forward to seeing each other again. It was a paws-itively great way to start the year.
Game On!
It was Game On at Kennedy Program Center this past week. Individuals and staff enjoyed a fun-filled day playing Minute-to-Win-It games. Lots of laughs, friendly competition, and great teamwork made it a fantastic time for everyone.
Door Decorating Contest
The Hummelstown Campus held a door decorating contest over the month of December. Doors around campus and throughout the group homes were decorated with care for the contest. It certainly added to the festive spirit for everyone. The team with the 1st place door won a $25.00 gift card, and 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place winners all won DVDs of Classic Collection Christmas Movies. The Lower-Level Executive suite used all their doors to create a "Polar Express" theme in the basement. Everyone had so much fun working on their doors and they are already looking forward to the next holiday season.
Visiting Phipps Conservatory
The gentlemen from Willow Acres SFR near Slippery Rock had a great time checking out the displays at Phipps Conservatory. They enjoyed seeing the mix of plants and artwork and loved going out to eat afterwards. Winter outings are always better when they end with a nice warm meal.
Decorating for Valentine's Day
The individuals in the Food Prep Area enjoyed spreading the love by decorating for Valentine's Day. They created a heart for their bulletin board by using ribbon and flowers. John, Charlie, Barb, and Bobby helped with placing the flowers and painting the heart, while Lowell folded the ribbon. Their joint effort gave the area a beautiful vibe for the upcoming holiday.
Wheel of Fortune
Slippery Rock Program Instructor Cindy Solman turned her area into a game show for the individuals she supports. They had a blast spinning the wheel and guessing letters to solve the puzzles. They were even good sports when they went bankrupt. As an instructor, Cindy likes to make learning fun.
Wellness Goals in Action
The Merakey IDD Wellness Program is designed to empower individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to achieve their fullest potential by integrating physical, mental, and social wellness into their daily lives. Through personalized evidence-based interventions and a commitment to inclusivity, the program aims to enhance quality of life, foster independence, and align with Merakey’s mission of transforming lives by providing exceptional care and support. Andrew, an individual who resides at the Verree Road Campus in Philadelphia, utilizes a Rifton Pacer Gait Trainer to embody the tenets of the wellness program. The durable medical equipment provides Andrew with postural support and natural arm movements while improving his walk and quality of life. With verbal cues as well as assistance to steer the gait trainer, Motor Development Specialist Frances Brown helps Andrew walk to improve his physical wellbeing and socialization. Andrew proudly demonstrates his emerging independence, spreads smiles, and interacts with everyone he encounters during his recurring exercise sessions.
Capital Region Holiday Part
The IDD program at the Capital Region held their holiday party on December 19 at the Rescue Fire Hall. The holiday meal included lasagna, ham, mac and cheese, green beans, pie, and cookies brought from the homes. Thank you to the volunteers who helped set up, serve food, and clean up the party. The fun continued with the annual visit from the Shrine Clowns, who created ballon animals for the crowd and even taught Santa a few tricks. Due to the greatly appreciated generous donations from many Merakey employees, each individual was able to receive a gift from Santa. This year Santa came a bit of a distance, not quite from the north pole, but close - thank you to Merakey’s own Jim Battaglia for playing a phenomenal Santa! Everyone loved seeing Santa, receiving a gift, and hearing Santa’s helper call out each person’s name. There were a few holiday-themed contests and prizes that were announced at the party. The individuals from the Pine Street home received a basket of games for winning the door decorating contest. Griffin Street and Highlands doors also received recognition for their themes. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s celebration a success.
