Page 29 - FOCUS-Spring 2022-FINAL-for flipbook-hi-res_Neat

l i v i n g o u r m i s s i o n

Colin Smith Della McIntyre and Melissa Frye are part of the

Bon Secours family, and they are also family members.
Colin Smith serves as the director of Strategy The mother and daughter duo work at the Bon
Timothy Bridges serves as a
and Economic Development for Bon Secours Secours Retreat and Conference Center. Della is a
resident service coordinator
Community Works. He is responsible for the senior housekeeper and has worked in the housekeeping
for Bon Secours Community
administration and operations of all economic department for more than 16 years. Melissa is a senior
Works. He identifies individual
development programs, including job training, chef and has worked in the food service department
household needs such as food,
financial capability training, food access services, for six years.
employment, transportation
violence reduction initiatives and returning
and social and medical services Normally, family members are not permitted to work
citizen services. In addition to overseeing the
and helps residents maintain together in the same department, but during the early
delivery of services, Colin manages operational Della McIntyre ( l)
independence by connecting stages of the pandemic, the kitchen was short staffed,
and strategic planning efforts across the and Melissa Frye (r)
them with services. organization. During his five-year tenure, and Della temporarily worked in food service.
Timothy Bridges Colin has led efforts to grow the organization’s Della McIntyre Melissa Frye

workforce, drive outcome-based programming
and increase
Timothy has worked within the ministries of Bon Secours
grant-funded “For months, there was very little work for “Running the kitchen in the early days of COVID-19
for more than 35 years and held multiple positions including
revenue for housekeepers. The sisters did not want to was tough. There was so much extra work. Instead
housekeeper, patient escort and patient transportation driver.
essential capital let anyone go and continued to pay us, so of buffet style, we served each guest individually,
“I grew up three blocks from Bon Secours Baltimore and operations we could keep our health insurance benefits. and that required significantly more staff. There
Hospital and have been inspired by how the Sisters initiatives linked When the kitchen needed people, I was were some days when we prepared more than
of Bon Secours engage with and support our to strategic happy to help. 100 custom-made salads. Many people working
community. Community service is very important priorities. in the food service industry have had a really
Early in my career at the center, one of difficult time during the pandemic. I am grateful
to me. I volunteer as the vice president of Fayette
my granddaughters died. All of the sisters that the sisters and the people who visit the
Street Outreach (FSO), a nonprofit neighborhood
came to her funeral. It meant so much to center are committed to keeping everyone safe.
community association in Southwest Baltimore that
“I am inspired each day by the Sisters me. More recently, in 2012, I was diagnosed
is a member of Bon Secours Community Works’ I also appreciate the sisters’ efforts toward
of Bon Secours and our organization’s with stage four breast cancer. The sisters
community-led Anchor Group. FSO hosts community caring for creation such as meatless Mondays
ongoing commitment to listening kept me on the payroll, and they visited
meetings, neighborhood block parties and toy drives and composting. It is amazing how much waste
to and working alongside those that me at home.
and provides meals during most major holidays. We we keep out of landfills. Another special part of
we serve. Our work in the community
began hosting vaccine clinics last summer to combat I am cancer-free now and will never my job is getting to know the sisters and being a
is a true partnership between our
COVID-19, and during the pandemic, we served forget how the sisters cared for me. part of their jubilee celebrations. They are always
community members and service
more than 300 people at Thanksgiving and Christmas During the most difficult times in my life, thankful and appreciative. In addition to the great
recipients and our staff. This is what
events. FSO introduces community members to the sisters have been there for me. people, it is beautiful here. There are days when
community development work is
opportunities they might not otherwise have through It felt good to have an opportunity to I look up from what I am doing and glance outside
all about—supporting community
classes in computer coding, podcasting and other give back to them when they needed and just feel thankful to be surrounded by so
members in helping them realize
educational content. It is a pleasure and an honor to help during the pandemic.” much beauty.”
their own goals and vision.”
be serving the people in my community in this way.”

26 27