Written by Joy Haenlein, Photos by John Ferris Robben
About 40 adults served by Abilis, the nonprofit for developmentally disabled individuals and their families, observed a very warm and happy Thanksgiving today at Abilis heaquarters in Glenville.
These adults live in Greenwich or Stamford in Abilis group homes, or in home-share arrangements or apartments in one of the two communities. They had no family with whom to share Thanksgiving.
This afternoon, they were served a traditional feast — turkey, stuffing, vegetables, cranberry sauce, pies and all the trimmings — by Abilis staff and board members. A number of those staff and board members brought their own family to join in the fun.
Football may have been on the TV in the background, but everyone assembled was having too much fun talking and visiting with each other to notice.
Amy Samalin, Abilis adult services director and a Greenwich resident, is expected to give birth within the week, yet she spent all day on her feet cooking and helping to prepare this special dinner. Her husband and beautiful daughter Sydney (complete with newly pierced ears!) came to help out and enjoy.
At the helm was Lolli Ross of Greenwich, Abilis’ executive director. She came to this wonderful agency 29 years ago — and never left. She spoke lovingly of her warm feelings for her Abilis family. She said she remembered holding some of the adults assembled in her arms when they first came to Abilis (then known as AR C) as babies.
Happy Thanksgiving!
