“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you
have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
On January 5, 2017, Family and Community Services of Somerset County will mark the 57th year since the merger of The Community Service Society of Bound Brook and the Family Counseling Service of Somerset Hills that created, what we now call, Family and Community Services of Somerset County (FCSSC).
The ability to adapt in an ever-changing socio-economic environment is essential to the survival of any small business and it is especially critical to a small non-profit organization. For the past 20 years, Eric Harris led our organization with professionalism, compassion, skill, and love. With the support and sacrifices of the staff and the Board of Directors throughout the 20 years, FCSSC managed to stay afloat when many small non-profits struggled and in some cases failed.
I am thankful that not only do I have the opportunity to serve as the Executive Director as FCSSC enters its 57th year but I am also thankful that Eric and the staff of FCSSC enter this 57th year with me. While we will no doubt encounter both old and new challenges in our journey forward, I remain hopeful that FCSSC can continue to serve our community for many years to come.
In my four short months of employment, there have already been so many notable accomplishments worth mentioning. In September of 2016, FCSSC had a successful 5K fundraiser. In November, we successfully launched a new group that provides essential services to perpetrators of domestic violence. In December, we welcomed a new supporter to our organization as we had a local group donate stuffed animals to the children to whom we provide services. Also in December, we had a successful visit by the State regarding our mental health services. And finally, in October and December, we welcomed a total of two new board members to our team.
Here’s to a happy, healthy, and successful 2017!
Warmest regards,
Richard W. Schumann