Today Brian Fitzgerald from Easter Seals of New Jersey joins Lisa Anderson to talk about the services offered through this special program, working with those experiencing developmental and physical disabilities.  Services are based on the participant's interests and desires as well as the needs of the family/caregiver. As with so many non-profits providing services to their patients, the programs that were put in place can no longer be utilized as per the Governor's mandates. Many of the individuals who attended the five hour per day weekly programs are now being monitored as well as can be via telemed conferences. The lack of programs not only disrupt life and learning, but can have an impact on the caregivers.   For more information on how to help, please visit eastersealsnj.com.  

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Our guest this week is former Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno. Kim is now the CEO of Fulfill, formerly known as the foodbank of Monmouth and Ocean County. Fulfill has been changing lives in the communities for the better.  The new name reflects the fact that they are focusing on more than food distribution. They help thosein need get to a place where they can back on their feet for good. Ending hunger in the communities is a complex challenge. It is now even more of a challenge in the face of the COVID 19 epidemic. Fulfill has seen a thirty percent increase in familes seeking help with food. They have spent five hundred thousand dollars more on food than this time last year. Please go to fulfullnj.org to see how five dollars can help feed a hungry family or to become a volunteer. 

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Our next guest is Gianna Clayton, director of nursing for Atlantic Medicine and Wellness. With the recent outbreak of Coronavirus, doctors have had to adjust their ways of treating patients. Going to a hospital emergency room for symtoms, or any other illness is strongly discouraged, so "Telemed" is being implemented in order to be able to treat patients. There is an app called Anywhere Care.  This enables a person to have a video chat with their doctor.  The doctor can then assess the situation, and provide medicine , advice,  or reassurance to the patient. Another aspect of Telemed is addressing Mental Health Issues via a virtual visit with a therapist. These sessions are private and HIPA compliant.  The number for an appointment is 732-528-5533. 

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This week’s She's Got Issues is addressing the urgent need for blood donations.  Joining Lisa is Bob Kessler, Senior Manager for Donor Recruitment for Vitalant.  Vitalant is one of the Nation’s oldest and largest non-profit transfusion medicine organizations. They bring together top experts in their field, inspire people to donate blood, offer advanced cutting edged research, and provides blood and special services to patients in more than one thousand hospitals.  While facing a severe blood donation shortage, Bob discusses safe ways to donate blood during the coronavirus epidemic.  Temperatures of all donors are taken at the time of donation and precautions such as sterilization of area and social distancing is also implemented. For more information, please visit Vitalant.org.

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Next up is guest Alana Mauger, Communications Manager for blood services for the Red Cross. The Red Cross in addition to providing life saving blood products, prevents, prepares for and responds to all local disasters.  At this time, healthy individuals are needed, as over fifty percent of blood drives have been cancelled, resulting in over two-hundred thousand fewer blood donations in the US. The same holds true for New Jersey. The Red Cross urges any healthy individuals to donate blood which is critical at the is time. Blood drives are being held in community centers, as well as the YMCA, which are all sterilzed and every precaution taken to ensure the safety of the donors and staff.  To sign up and become a donor, of to volunteer, please visit Redcrossblood.org.   

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