Letter to the Editor: Thank you, Downey
Dear Editor:
For more than thirty-four years, I have had the privilege and honor of serving as Executive Director of Exchange Club Family Support Center. Our agency has been committed to supporting and strengthening families through our home-based Parent Aide Program and variety of parenting classes, covering from prenatal parents to parents of teens. It was through the work and dedication of the Exchange Club of Downey, one of our city’s most active service clubs at the time, which was responsible for bringing our Center to fruition.
At of the end of November, Exchange Club Family Support Center will cease operation, saying goodbye to an amazing community that has supported us throughout this journey. There have been many questions of “why”, with the answer being a bit complex. But please know it was a difficult decision that was made with tremendous thought, care and consideration.
What is important is taking this opportunity to extend my extreme gratitude. First and foremost, thank you to the thousands of families that allowed us into your lives! Whether during the home visits of our Parent Aide Program, attending one of our parenting classes, the many phone calls we received for resource information even if their request had nothing to do with family services, the need for guidance as to which of our services best suited their situation, or just to process anonymously over the phone with no judgement but with plenty of care and compassion.
Thank you… To our collaborative partners, those from other non-profits serving the community. To Downey Unified School District as well as neighboring districts who welcomed us when attending school meetings to support our client families needing additional intervention. To those that served on our Board of Directors over the years, including City staff, City Manager, Council members, Board of Education members, service club members, caring residents of our community and so many more. To our many, many donors whether in-kind donations, participating in our Christmas Adopt-A-Family program, supporting fundraisers, annual donations of back to school supplies, putting together household cleaning product baskets, making cash donations, and so many more.
And most especially, thank you to my current and former staff, volunteer Parent Aides from our early days and CSULB social work interns. You are the ones that put in the hard work to make changes in the lives of those thousands of families. You are the ones that were in those homes or teaching those classes week after week for all these years. It’s been the honor of my lifetime to lead you!
To have adult children from former clients walk into our Center with a donation, to thank us for how we helped their parents when they were young children, there’s no better gift than seeing the impact of our work firsthand!
My time serving this community has been a full-circle experience as well. As a little girl living with her family in Orange County, I often passed through this city. My dad worked for over thirty years at the Firestone Tire plant in South Gate. I often came with my mom to pick up my dad after his shift.
One of my most treasured childhood memories is when my parents brought me to Downey one Saturday afternoon. My dad had heard about a celebrity making an appearance and knew I’d be thrilled with the chance to say HI! So they brought me to the Speedy McDonald’s to “meet” Ronald McDonald! Well, me and a gazillion other people. But sitting on my dad’s shoulders I caught a glimpse and couldn’t have been more thrilled! A precious memory I’ve held tight.
So, again, THANK YOU DOWNEY for your support over these years. This has been my home-away-from home for a very long time and will forever hold a place in my heart.
Georganne Bruce
Anaheim