It’s hard to believe that summer 2020 is almost over. Blazing hot days will soon give way to fall’s welcome cooler climes, with that crispness in the air we look forward to.

At SKIL, we have continued to hold our annual customer events as much as possible, including our public picnics. I’ve been reflecting on all of the support we’ve had from our customers and communities with our events. It’s been so nice to see people’s faces, even though they’re wearing masks and we’re seeing them via social distancing measures.

I feel that our events have been successful, and I’m pleased we tried something new and that we’re able to move forward with our annual activities amid the Coronavirus pandemic. It’s always easier to do nothing than it is to come up with a new way to do something that’s important to you. Being Americans with disabilities, we’re used to life not always being easy, but we know how to break down barriers and overcome them. COVID-19 is certainly not the first barrier we have had to face, nor will it be the last one.

We will keep searching for and finding creative ways of serving you, our beloved customers. Finding creative ways to continue on is the way our country is going to move forward. So, stay with us! Celebrate life!

Love, Shari

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The Wesley United Methodist Church in Parsons recently expanded its Thursday night free dinner ministry. The church is serving free to-go dinner meals from its van on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, 5:30-6:00 p.m. in the King Cash Saver parking lot.

The next free dinner meal will be August 27, 2020. Church officials hope to expand the free meal program further if funding is awarded.

Have you been counted yet? The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Census remains underway. I proudly filled out my 2020 Census form and hope you have or will do the same, either a paper form, online or via telephone.

Why? Because the numbers of people the Census Bureau counts determines vital funding for our communities, including schools, hospitals, roads and other necessities that help maintain the greatness of America. Billions of federal dollars trickle down to the states and local communities based upon Census data. The less people are counted, the less money flows into our communities. Census data is also used to determine the total number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and to draw boundaries for both our Congressional and our state legislative districts.

Having a disability gives us a lot of rights. But we also have a responsibility, not just for ourselves and our own lifestyles, but for each other and the communities we live in. We’re all relying on each other, to represent the disability community via accurately and completely providing 2020 Census information.

Please go to https://2020census.gov to learn more about the Census, and to be counted if you have not yet been. Please contact us at SKIL, at 1-800-688-5616 M-F 8-5 p.m. if we can be of help to you in providing this vital information to the U.S. Census Bureau. I challenge you to help keep our communities strong and our nation great by participating in the 2020 Census.

Love, Shari