First, I'll post a letter written by those in need of our help:

Dear Friends of Cheshire Home,
I am a resident of cheshire Home, a facility in Florham Park, new Jersey,founded in 1981 to provide services and a home for neurologically impaired young adults. All of us are in some active program, such as furthering our education,emplyment,physical or occupational therapy.

Recently,because of funding difficulties, the Home has had to alter a long-standing policy regarding the length of time they could hold a resident's bed when they are hospitalized. The thought of losing our bed or more importantly our "home" is extremely stressful for many of us who would, because of lack of resources, be placed in Nursing Homes with much older residents. All potential for our total growth and development would be lost. For many, such a move would have a devastating effect on the lives we have established at Cheshire Home.

We are turning to you for help. Cash contributions made out to "Cheshire Home, Secure Our Bed Fund" or select items or services that can be raffled off would be greatly appreciated. (Cheshire Home is a non-profit, tax-deductable organization)

Please remember in this case, a secured bed equals quality of life for a resident. Please do not underestimate your ability to have a major impact on the life of another human being.
If you have any questions,would like more information or want to discuss your contribution, Please call Cheshire Home Development Office at 973-377-9531.

Sincerely yours,

Denise L Jenne, Ph.D.
Resident Representative.

The Cheshire Home
9 Ridgedale Av.e
Florham Park N.J. 07932
--------------------------------

Denise, or " Dee" happens to be our friend and a fellow blunderite.

To help Dee and her fellow residents, I am wearing the hat of concert promoter.
We will be having a benefit concert we are calling "Folk Helping Folks" on Sunday, Nov.20, 5:00pm to be held at The Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Rd. Morristown N.J.
$10.00 donation.
This concert has had the performance space donnated by the MUF, and we have 4 acts, all of whom have donated thier time and talents.
They are all members of "The Folk Project" (of which I am a board member) and friends (or near friends <img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/smile.gif" width=15 height=15> ) of mine.
The perfomers include:
Sandie Reilly-
Musictown-
Mike Agranoff-
Ralph Litwin-(also host of a local folk tv show)

All high quality perfomers and high quality people.

If you are local enough, pop on in, the place seats about 200.
If you care to help in some other way, see the information above or get in touch with me at viksew@webspan.net. Thanks a bunch. larry

P.S., Dee and the residents of Cheshire are publishing a program to be handed out at the benefit. There are ads fo sale for those that may wish to place one. The deadline is close----Oct.10. There will also be raffles of some sort.

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 3 times, lastly by Larry on Oct 03, 2005 ---</FONT></center>

An update.
The loss of home has already happened to one resident, and is in the process of happening to another. All for needing a hospital stay.<img src="http://www.arlo.net/ubb/smilies/frown.gif" width=15 height=15>

Although I'm not around on these boards much anymore, the blunder community is still very dear and important to me. One of the reasons this crazy group maintains such a special place in my heart is because so many of its people are among the most caring and loving that I know. I might not hang around here much, but I see as many of you as often as I can -- and think of you even more . For that reason, when Larry told me he had posted my letter here, I dropped by to check it out and why I'm adding these words to Larry's.

If ever there were a time when you could do something that would really make a difference in this world, this is it. The threat of hospitalization is a real one for many of the residents. As Larry mentions, in just three months, two of our residents have already been discharged -- the last one after living here for 24 years.

As I touched on in my letter, for many of us, being discharged from Cheshire Home would have a devastating impact on our lives. Cheshire Home's a unique facility that enables its residents to lead productive lives. Discharge from here would mean residents would have to give up their careers or stop their educations, marriages would be dismantled, etc. etc. To quote what another resident so eloquently wrote, "Perhaps one of the most heart rendering aspects of the recent disasters is seeing disabled people in their wheelchairs in shelters where the quality of life is reduced to barely the care they need just to stay alive. It is bad enough when nature is the cause, but when simple budgetary necessity threatens to do the same thing, a cry for help must go out as well...."

Folk Helping Folks will certainly help and we are extremely grateful to Larry and the others who are making this happen. But is only a drop in the bucket. We still need to raise more funds. Every dollar helps. If you can contribute in any way, you would truly have an impact on another's life.

Thanks, Dee

P.S. we are also selling silicone wristbands. They are teal in color and embossed with the words Secure Our Bed. They cost $5 apiece (plus shipping). If interested, e-mail me at Dr.Crime@aol.com.

<center><FONT COLOR="#000080">--- Edited 1 times, lastly by Dee on Oct 06, 2005 ---</FONT></center>

This is happening this sunday....so if you are in the area, stop by!