Dear Members & Friends of the Pine Haven Community,
After several years of planning and waiting, we are very excited to share that Pine Haven will be welcoming our first group of international caregivers to Sheboygan Falls in mid-February! These ten new employees are from the Philippines and have also worked as caregivers in Israel and the United Arab Emirates. All went through English-language video interviews with Pine Haven and have completed the lengthy, legal process to secure employment-based visas approved by the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services agency.
As they transition to life and work here in the United States, we hope to make their arrival as comfortable and as welcoming as possible. To do this, we are reaching out to our Board members, supporting church congregations, employees, friends, and community partners for assistance and support in the following areas:
- Friendship & Cultural Integration: Provide a warm welcome to our organization and households. Extend invitations to community events, shared meals, mentorship, worship, and other opportunities that foster fellowship and social connection.
- Housing: Donate basic furnishings and household/kitchen goods – living accommodations will be provided by Pine Haven for a brief period when the employees first arrive, and they will be transitioning to their own houses or apartments later this spring. If you would like to make donations, or if you know of affordable local rental housing that would be available starting June 1, please reach out to Jocelyn Gartman at jocelyn.gartman@pinehaven.org. We will maintain a list and stay in touch re: next steps.
- Transportation: These workers will not initially have Wisconsin drivers’ licenses or vehicles, so access to volunteer drivers, carpool options, ride-share programs, or public transit will be needed for personal errands and appointments.
Your partnership will assist us in meeting initial practical needs and help our new caregivers feel valued, included, and at home here. If you or those in your circles are able to help, if you would like more information, or if you have other ideas for welcoming initiatives, please contact Denise Clarke, Pine Haven’s Director of Human Resources, at (920) 550-5253 or denise.clarke@pinehaven.org.
As we’ve spoken to these applicants through the years, we have been incredibly heartened and impressed by their love of and respect for elders, by their desire to work hard and serve others, by the faith that they’ve expressed, and by their strong desire to live and work in the United States. We hope that the extended Pine Haven family will welcome them warmly as they join us in our mission here.
With appreciation from Pine Haven’s Leadership Team,
Ron Walvoort, Chief Executive Officer
Linda Evraets, Chief Financial Officer
Natalie Nonnemacher, Director of Resident Services
Denise Clarke, Director of Human Resources
Lynn Justinger, Director of Sales & Marketing
