The Holy Angels of Belmont get help to help the residents
A donation by a lay religious group will allow Holy Angels to purchase 10 clinical and therapeutic fees for its residents.
The Knights and Dames of the Order of Malta fully funded a grant of almost $78,000 to buy the chairs.
“This project is very important to us in providing the highest quality of care for our medically fragile residents,” said Holy Angels President and CEO Kerri Massey. “These chairs will provide the best support and care to our residents to help prevent discomfort and fatigue related to posture. These chairs are critically important pieces of medical equipment.”
Holy Angels serves 59 non-ambulatory individuals who require specialized chairs and equipment to avoid significant medical issues and pain. The grant enables Holy Angels to purchase 10 custom made chairs from Seating Matters in Ireland through a partnership with Arjo.
Significant market research was conducted to determine that these chairs provide the best quality of care and value for residents. Seating Matters is a leading designer in the industry of this equipment with common values and goals that align with the interests of Holy Angels. Arjo has collaborated with Holy Angels several times before to help us purchase unique medical equipment, including mechanical lifts.
A group from the Order of Malta visited the Holy Angels just before the holidays to deliver the funds and see the impact the chairs make in the lives of the residents.
“Being able to see firsthand the difference these chairs have on the lives of these angels was priceless. You could see how comfortable Kinsey was in the chair. It was very special to see how the Order of Malta could make such an immediate impact,” said Rick Mense, Hospitaller with the Order of Malta.
Holy Angels and the Order of Malta have a special partnership that has lasted decades. Several Knights and Dames of the order of Malta, among them Conventional Chaplains Rt. Rev. Abbott Placed Solari and the late Rev. William Curlin supported the mission of the Holy Angels.
Three members of the Order of Malta currently serve on the board of directors of the Holy Angels in key leadership positions. Many of them have given their time, talent and treasure over the many years. Even more specifically, the Order of Malta has provided five grants now over the last 15 years totaling over $200,000.
“The Order of Malta is part of the Holy Angels family. They visited here and helped to bless and support our residents. We have a special relationship with them and hope they will remain part of our family for years, if not decades, to come,” said Massey.
About Holy Angels
Holy Angels was founded in 1955 by the Sisters of Mercy. The private, non-profit corporation located in Belmont provides residential services and innovative programs for children and adults with intellectual developmental disabilities with critical medical conditions.
The Sovereign Order of Malta it is one of the oldest institutions of Western and Christian civilization. A lay religious order of the Catholic Church since 1113 and a subject of international law, the Sovereign Order of Malta has diplomatic relations with more than 100 states and the European Union, and permanent observer status in the United Nations. It is neutral, impartial and apolitical.
Today, the Order of Malta is active in 120 countries that take care of people in need through its medical, social and humanitarian work. Every day, its wide spectrum of social projects provides constant support for forgotten or excluded members of society. It is especially involved in helping people living in the midst of armed conflicts and natural disasters by providing medical assistance, caring for refugees, and distributing medicines and basic survival equipment. Around the world, the Order of Malta is dedicated to the preservation of human dignity and the care of all those in need, regardless of their origin or religion.