We’d like to share a special letter from our member Michael that gives you a glimpse into his journey and why Maybelle Center is so important to him. We invite you to take a moment to read his letter and consider coming alongside Michael with a year-end gift.
November 26, 2019
Dear Donor,
We all have curveballs and have been tossed around in the game of life. I’ve had my share of them, believe me. A lot of people say I’m a very caring individual and also say I’m one of the kindest and sweetest people they’ve met. But my form of autism is a significant issue, and it has impacted my life a lot.
And now, with the help of this organization, I’ve had help in navigating the sometimes difficult bureaucracy, the evolving healthcare system, and a whole host of things. Because I need help with certain things – certain things I just don’t comprehend.
What donors need to know about this organization is that their money – your money – keeps this place going.
Because my form of autism is more difficult to spot than others, I wasn’t diagnosed with autism until I was 36, which was about 2009. But Asperger’s itself wasn’t recognized here in the United States until 1994. I was 21 by the time it was recognized. It took 15 more years after that to find out I had it. So that’s my biggest regret. Because I’ve pretty much been on my own – “Hope you don’t sink! Swim!”
I’ve been part of this organization for slightly over eight years now. The staff down here, they treat me like a human being. They don’t treat me like some sort of child because of my disability. I’ve had bad experiences where I’ve had people treat me differently because of who I am. And I have been teased about it in the past. I’ve been bullied.
Maybelle Center’s the kind of a place where I know the people, and I know that I’m gonna get treated with respect and dignity.
Believe it or not, when I first got housing 14 years ago, I actually felt more alone and isolated than I did on the street. I know it sounds warped to the average citizen, but that was true in my experience. And now not so much, because I know I have this organization to come to three or four days a week, for a few hours a day, you know, and beats being in my apartment all day. And also, it benefits my mental health a lot just by being around people, socializing.
I just wish that when people built low-income housing, they would think more about socialization and sense of community, than just trying to “get butts off the street,” as the old saying goes.
Now I consider myself at a healthy crossroads. Sure, I have complaints about my life like everybody else does. But I’m grateful to have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, the ability to buy food, and also people in my life that treat me with respect and dignity.
And this community is part of it. Because it helps me, allows me, to make sure I do not isolate myself for days at a time. Like when I hadn’t been at the Center for two or three days, Celeste [Community Room Lead] will ask me how I’ve been and stuff like that. Just having someone like Celeste ask me how I’m doing on a day-to-day basis is nice because it goes to show you that there’s people who care.
I read somewhere that social isolation is as bad as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day – I think it was quoted from a study done by BYU [Brigham Young University]. And I would say that I agree. I would say social isolation is about as bad as diabetes or heart disease, in my opinion. Because being alone – being alone is miserable.
And that’s why I think the volunteers [from Maybelle Center] who go out and do the building visits, is for a lot of folks, sadly, the highlight of their week. Because unless they get Meals on Wheels, the volunteers may be the only people they see all week. Which tells me something about how very messed up society is – we don’t take care of the most vulnerable people.
So, I would say to donors like you, your money is going to help real people. It’s going to help actual members. I’m one of those members that it’s going to help.
It’s going to make sure that I’m able to continue to go to art class. To make sure I’m able to come here, have a cup of coffee, three to four days a week, and have people to talk to. That’s what your money is going to be. It’s going to keep the lights on, and the doors open. Because without the money, the lights won’t go on. The doors won’t stay open.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Smith
Maybelle Center Member
P.S. Basically, I would say to you, the donor, your money literally keeps the lights on. Your money goes towards things like keeping the coffee flowing in the Community Room or makes it so we can have a holiday party.
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