My son suffers from a traumatic brain injury. He has had extensive therapy at Kennedy Krieger Institute. The therapist there recommended I purchase a specialized bike for him at home. They are very expensive so I asked Bello Machre if there was any funding I could apply for to help reduce the cost for me. A few weeks ago I received notification that the had gotten funding for the entire bike. I was in tears hearing this news. I never thought they would be able to get funding for the entire bike. My son is thrilled to be receiving his new bike next week. This organization is remarkable.
Our entire MS does a yard clean up day for Bello Machre every Spring. We take out over 250 people to about 20 homes to help out the group. The kids love doing the work and helping out in the community and the residents love having us there.
My main interests in this charity is its commitment to helping adults with disabilities. Lots of emphasis is placed on the social aspects of the adult. Becoming more a part of the community, allows everyone to participate in activities with people of all abilities and disabilities. This charity does all it can to make sure that all adults are active, involved and included.
This is an Agency that is very dedicated to the people they serve. They go above and beyond the call of duty and the level of professionalism is quite evident. They go to great lengths to ensure the level of service and the needs of the people they serve are met beyond expectations. It is a pleasure and honor to say that I ave been blessed to know the great crew at Bello Machre.
The people at Bello Machre from the directors to the volunteers put their hearts and souls into creating fantastic homes and programs for all of their clients. I feel the warmth, love and caring every time I am with any of their staff, and it is reflected in the faces of those they serve.
I love Bello Machre! I have been fortunate to serve this organization in a variety of ways! I have been an emloyee, have a relative who receives services from Bello and continue to be a donor. Bello strives for excellence. Under the direction of Dr. Ireland and his management team, Bello continues to have a vision which is always person centered. Their dedicated staff work tirelessly and selfishly when providing supports to individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities. I am proud to be associated with such an outstanding organization!
I first learned about Bello Machre, about 4 years ago, by helping my young daughter make greeting cards (at our temple) to be distributed to the Bello Machre residents. They love receiving mail, just like anyone else... I've been told residents will hang their cards up (signed, "Your friend") and show it off to anyone who comes to visit! I was curious about the organization and wanted my daughter to understand who would be receiving her cards. In addition to heading up the yearly card making project, I started organizing home visits w/ the young children of our temple to different Bello Machre homes - to make crafts, share a snack and spend some time. It was amazing how much EVERYONE enjoyed these visits. We then organized the same thing for a group of 7th graders, as part of their volunteer/giving back to the community project. At this particular home, a gentleman loves music, so we brought instruments and had a jam session. This same man was recently married and his wife loved showing off her wedding album to the girls. Some of those kids have become regular volunteers w/ Bello Machre. For the past year, I have been taking my 2 daughters (ages 3 & 7) to a Bello Machre home for a monthly visit. We have become friends w/ 4 wonderful women (3 residents and one care taker) and we all look forward to seeing each other and catching up on what has happened since we last hung out. We mostly do crafts, sometimes play games and always share a snack or meal. It's been so fun having 4 more people enjoy watching my children grow. It is important to me that all children do not grow up w/ prejudices against disabled people. One parent of the above 7th graders actually told me that I opened her eyes and taught her tolerance, through her son's great experience with Bello Machre. I can't take the credit. Bello Machre is an amazing organization, providing such loving care to people in need. They help families feel secure that their adult children/family members will be not only provided for, but given a chance to thrive. I love that the homes are in residential neighborhoods, that they provide jobs or day services for the individuals and treat them with the respect they deserve. The volunteer coordinators have spoken to different groups at our temple. They are amazing in educating and inspiring people about Bello Machre. I feel volunteering at Bello Machre has enriched people's lives. In return, it has definitely enriched my family's life, as well.
I just started volunteering with Bello Machre this year and I'm glad I did. I have been exposed to a community that respects, supports and love one another. Everyone chips in to make sure an event is successful. I have never worked this closely with individuals with disabilities but whether in a wheelchair or speech impaired each of them show gratitude for the opportunity to interact with you. They are very comfortable with who they are and therefore it puts you at ease when talking or working with them. Again, I am very thankful that I am able to be a part of such a great community especially one that appreciates even the smallest amount of contribution or time you may have to give.
I am now a lifetime board member and also the mother of a Bello Machre resident. Bello Machre saved my life, my son's life and his brother's life. I worried about what would happen to my son if I was not around. That is something that Bello has taken off my shoulder's and his brother's. My son has never been so happy and contend as he is with his Bello family. My son does not talk but he will let me know in other ways if he is not happy. I can truly say that it is so wonderful to see that he has gotten so content with his Bello family that he is always ready to go back to his house. He loves to see me and the rest of the family but when it comes time to go back to his house he is ready. The services that Bello provides is the same as any family would provide for their family members and more. I am kept informed of the good things and also of any problems. My son is treated with respect and love. In "so called normal" families the love and respect is not always there, but with Bello it is the "normal".
As parents of a profoundly disabled son, our involvement with Bello began before it became the wonderful entity that it has grown to be. It was a dream when the only available resources in the very early 60’s were the Health Dept. and state institutions. The need was so great and the civic response so large that Bello Machre was built in 1972 as a campus program with seven cottages, our son being one of the first clients to be served. Bello has always maintained a very committed Board of Directors (of which I served for ten years) and has placed the welfare of their clients first and foremost. My husband and I, and our son’s two siblings, could not have placed his care for almost 38 years in a setting that did not meet his needs, both emotionally and physically. Bello was pivotal in our ability to raise our children responsibly, pursue careers, maintain a loving home environment, and still be involved with our son, his program, his caregivers, and decisions regarding his health and well-being. In short, we owe more to Bello than we can possibly give back.
As both Chairman of the Board and parent of a Bello client, I have been involved with this organization for over 25 years. Bello has provided a wonderfully safe and thriving environment for our intellectually disabled/autistic son while allowing us the luxury of knowing he is well-cared for. Bello Machre, Inc. is a class-act agency from its top administrative levels to its direct hands-on staff and we feel lucky to have found it.
My internship at Bello Machre was an amazing experience. I learned so much from the staff and the individuals. Evette was such a pleasure to work with. She really does a remarkable job bringing the community together. At the Kurtch house I witnessed the staffs unconditional dedication. They treated the individuals as if they were family which is what makes this agency so amazing and different from the rest. I would definitely recommend this agency to anyone looking to volunteer and individuals with disabilities.
The Volunteer Center For Anne Arundel County has partnered with Bello Machre and its Aktion Club on volunteer projects in Anne Arundel County. It has been great to include volunteers of all abilities in service to others. Bello Machre supports its clients in so many creative ways and makes sure they are a full part of our community.
I've grown up around Bello Machre for all of my life. For about 20 years, my mom has worked there, and I have spent lengthy amount times at Bello doing volunteer work and enjoying the people there. I've organized a high school, national honor society committee with them, and all my friends and peers that get to see the results of Bello: ecstatic, comforted, healthy, developmentally-disabled adults, have absolutely fallen in love with the great work of this organization as well. Bello helps save lives of thousands of developmentally-disabled adults, who might not otherwise be in the loving homecare and lifestyle that they attain with Bello.
I have known the staff and volunteers of Bello Machre for over 20 years. The board of directors is well diversified and includes family members of consumers and consumers as well. The Executive Director and staff are a caring, sensitive group of people entrusted with providing for the residential needs of adults of all ages. They are superlative. I contribute to this organization and believe that my money is well spent.
My experience with Bello Machre spans decades. This organization has been unwaveringly consistent in its focus on serving the needs of the individual first. A big part of this is creating a family atmosphere. To do that, you have to have qualified, dedicated and long serving staff & volunteers and this is where Bello Machre shines. We have two family members served by Bello Machre. They've been in weddings, gone on family vacations, and simply been a member of the families of staff. It's like they have their own families. So many individuals with developmental disabilities don't have the opportunity to experience this natural part of life. That our family members have had this opportunity is pretty miraculous and such a blessing. It would not have happened without Bello Machre.