Mary Feuer was recently named CHP Employee of the Year. For 29 years, the assistant director of CHP Family Services has rarely had a day on the job that matched any other.
One day, Mary is crawling under CHP’s mobile health unit to adjust the jacks securing the wheelchair lift. Another day she is working well into the evening to help a family facing a food or housing crisis, or helping homeless people in Pittsfield.
Since COVID-19, the work of Mary and her colleagues at Family Services has been amplified. Local families who already struggled to make ends meet are now negotiating the risk of virus exposure, recent unemployment benefit cuts, and the strains of being isolated.
Family Services Director Michelle Derr, who has worked with Mary for these past three decades at CHP, notes that a 10 – 11 hour day is common for Mary. She’ll pitch in to do anything, including the mobile health unit’s COVID-19 super cleanings
required a the end of each day.
“Mary will pitch in to do anything. She does all of this with a smile on her face and some crazy jokes,” says Michelle. “We work with a lot of families who are experiencing crisis, and Mary is consistently
optimistic, compassionate and good-humored.”
Thank you Mary, for your leadership by example.