2020 was a year that many of us thought could never happen. Westbay started the year planning the move of all social services programs into a new location at 487 Jefferson Blvd. Everything was going smoothly when suddenly, the entire State and country shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As with many crisis, Westbay remained ready and able to continue providing the most needed services to the residents of Kent County. We have adjusted in every area possible to remain committed to helping our local communities become stronger. While we strive to adapt to meet the changing needs of our communities, our mission remains the same: to empower and mobilize people through our programs, partnerships and advocacy to gain greater self-sufficiency.
A significant amount of our workforce is currently working remotely, yet still meeting the needs of those we serve. Our hours of operation have changed to align with the requirements of the RI Dept. of Health and the Center for Disease Control. We are staggering employees who work in-house. We are wearing face coverings and abiding by Social Distancing. Each one of us has felt the impact of this pandemic in one way or another.
I would like to thank each and every staff member of Westbay for their hard work and continued emphasis on ensuring that the residents we serve are able to obtain the necessary services we have to offer. I am truly blessed to have all of you as part of my Westbay Team.
We also are deeply appreciative of all of our funders and donors, either state, local or private who help us further our mission with each passing day. I am unsure what 2020-2021 will look like. However, rest assured that Westbay and all of our programs and services will be here for all in Kent County who need them.