important update
March 27th, 2020
Dear Friends,
What a week it has been. In just over 8 days, Genesis Club has shifted its work from being site-based to operating as a ‘virtual’ clubhouse.
Our staff have been nothing less than extraordinary, demonstrating the same dedication, creativity and passion for our mission and our members as ever before, but working over-time to adapt to new technologies, monitoring and sharing essential community resources, and most importantly, reaching out to members -- many who already struggle with social isolation and heightened anxiety -- to assure them they are not alone and that we will get through this together. Talking with “every member, every day” is now our practice.
We have always known that we were a supportive and caring community. But this week reminded us that we are an incredibly strong, resilient, and adaptive community, regardless of where we are located. For instance, we have converted the planning and preparation of 60 healthy lunches, typically served at the clubhouse each day, into care packages of healthy staples delivered to members who have run out of food. We are telephonically helping college students to transition to their on-line classes. We are helping members who have been laid off from their jobs in the service industry to apply for unemployment. We are helping members to connect with their medical providers so there is no interruption in treatments or therapies. This week we learned that “social distancing” does not mean social isolation.
I don’t know what next week will bring. But I do know that Genesis Club will respond as only a clubhouse can – thoughtfully, creatively, and effectively. It’s in our DNA.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health condition and would like to learn more about the supports and services available, call us at 508-831-0100, leave a message and we will call you back. After all – our virtual doors are still open!
Stay well, stay connected, and stay strong,
Lisa Brennan
Executive Director
Dear Friends,
What a week it has been. In just over 8 days, Genesis Club has shifted its work from being site-based to operating as a ‘virtual’ clubhouse.
Our staff have been nothing less than extraordinary, demonstrating the same dedication, creativity and passion for our mission and our members as ever before, but working over-time to adapt to new technologies, monitoring and sharing essential community resources, and most importantly, reaching out to members -- many who already struggle with social isolation and heightened anxiety -- to assure them they are not alone and that we will get through this together. Talking with “every member, every day” is now our practice.
We have always known that we were a supportive and caring community. But this week reminded us that we are an incredibly strong, resilient, and adaptive community, regardless of where we are located. For instance, we have converted the planning and preparation of 60 healthy lunches, typically served at the clubhouse each day, into care packages of healthy staples delivered to members who have run out of food. We are telephonically helping college students to transition to their on-line classes. We are helping members who have been laid off from their jobs in the service industry to apply for unemployment. We are helping members to connect with their medical providers so there is no interruption in treatments or therapies. This week we learned that “social distancing” does not mean social isolation.
I don’t know what next week will bring. But I do know that Genesis Club will respond as only a clubhouse can – thoughtfully, creatively, and effectively. It’s in our DNA.
If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental health condition and would like to learn more about the supports and services available, call us at 508-831-0100, leave a message and we will call you back. After all – our virtual doors are still open!
Stay well, stay connected, and stay strong,
Lisa Brennan
Executive Director
Dear Friends of Genesis Club,
These are unprecedented times in our country, the Commonwealth, and our community. The COVID-19 pandemic, while not dangerous to most, poses a serious and sometimes deadly threat to those who have compromised immune systems. Out of a sense of responsibility to our most vulnerable neighbors, and wanting to be part of the world-wide effort to help contain the spread of the virus, we have made the very difficult decision to close our doors on Wednesday, March 18th until Monday, April 6th. We are monitoring the situation closely and will make adjustments as they are needed.
These are also scary times. People are looking for clear, accurate information. People are afraid of what is not yet known. Many are anxious about the possibility of self-quarantine because it feels so much like the isolation they fight against so courageously every day. That is why we intend to do what we do best… care for and support each other, despite our doors being closed.
Our clubhouse community will remain just that – a community. Members and staff together will focus solely on what has now become our primary mission: to care for each other and maintain our sense of family. We are conducting very intensive outreach and will continue to do so over the next few weeks, via phone calls, and social media. Staff and members alike will check in on each other, and find ways to remain connected in new, creative ways. We’ll have a skeleton staff at the clubhouse to help with internal operations, respond to phone calls, and triage urgent situations as they arise.
Stay well, stay connected, and stay strong. We will get through this as we always do: as the Genesis Club community.
These are unprecedented times in our country, the Commonwealth, and our community. The COVID-19 pandemic, while not dangerous to most, poses a serious and sometimes deadly threat to those who have compromised immune systems. Out of a sense of responsibility to our most vulnerable neighbors, and wanting to be part of the world-wide effort to help contain the spread of the virus, we have made the very difficult decision to close our doors on Wednesday, March 18th until Monday, April 6th. We are monitoring the situation closely and will make adjustments as they are needed.
These are also scary times. People are looking for clear, accurate information. People are afraid of what is not yet known. Many are anxious about the possibility of self-quarantine because it feels so much like the isolation they fight against so courageously every day. That is why we intend to do what we do best… care for and support each other, despite our doors being closed.
Our clubhouse community will remain just that – a community. Members and staff together will focus solely on what has now become our primary mission: to care for each other and maintain our sense of family. We are conducting very intensive outreach and will continue to do so over the next few weeks, via phone calls, and social media. Staff and members alike will check in on each other, and find ways to remain connected in new, creative ways. We’ll have a skeleton staff at the clubhouse to help with internal operations, respond to phone calls, and triage urgent situations as they arise.
Stay well, stay connected, and stay strong. We will get through this as we always do: as the Genesis Club community.
Click to view our 2018 impact report
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Genesis Club, Inc.
274 Lincoln St. Worcester, MA 01605 (508) 831-0100 Info: training@genesisclub.org Referrals: referral@genesisclub.org Genesis Club is an Accredited Clubhouse, a charter member of Clubhouse International, and an international training center for clubhouses worldwide. 
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Leadership in Mental Health Recovery. This year Genesis Club Inc. has been recognized by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation for our dedication to alleviating the struggle consistent with mental illness. 
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