Staff and volunteers at Lighthouse Emergency Services are having a bittersweet week, preparing to say goodbye to two key employees.
Katie Stewart, manager of the Independence Township location, and Jane Carr, volunteer/special events coordinator, will work their last day Friday, June 13. They are two of five employees losing their jobs throughout the Pontiac-based Lighthouse of Oakland County because of budget problems.
Stewart started as a Lighthouse volunteer in 1993, then joined the staff in 1997. Stewart later recruited Carr, first as a volunteer, then as an employee.
‘We’re feeling a little down at times,? Stewart said, but the family atmosphere is such that there is laughter, too, she said.
‘We had to go through it not only the day we found out,? Carr said. ‘We had to go through it for five days as the volunteers found out.?
While feeling their own pain, they are also concerned about the three remaining employees at what is commonly known as ‘Lighthouse North.?
‘It’s going to be a lot different,? Stewart said.
The laid off employees were given the option to begin seeking other jobs immediately, but both chose to work out their two weeks notice.
‘The clients mean a lot to us, and the volunteers mean a lot to us,? Carr said. ‘And we wanted to make sure our coworkers were ready to go [after their departure]. I don’t know how they could ever learn the things Katie knows.?
Lighthouse officials had previously announced a pending ‘restructuring? because of rising demand and decreasing income across their entire system. For more than 30 years, the organization has billed itself as a ‘beacon of help, hope and encouragement? for low-income families, senior citizens and others with ‘immediate needs? for food, medicine, transportation or temporary shelter.
At least one local volunteer is not happy about the layoffs or how they were determined. Mel Taylor, who has been a Lighthouse volunteer for eight years, said the announced cuts (in both staff and resources) is not fair.
‘They’re also taking our truck away,? she said. ‘We do a lot for north Oakland County and now they’re cutting us.?
Taylor also did not like that all employees were required to reapply for jobs.
‘I felt the way they did it was unethical,? Taylor said. ‘They kind of knew who they wanted to get rid of.?
Emily Nadeau, executive director of Lighthouse of Oakland County, understands that volunteers would be upset, but she said the decisions were made based on delivery of services, improving efficiency and eliminating duplication.
‘We don’t think of Clarkston as another agency,? Nadeau said. ‘We looked at the program as a whole. This wasn’t a popularity contest.
‘Donations are down and demand is up,? she said, noting the irony of the economic situation. ‘It was a significant cut for us. It’s so sad that the hardest time is the hardest time.?
Nadeau said support services from the Pontiac office will be used to supplement services at Lighthouse North.
The organization continues to seek financial donations and volunteer help. For more information, call (248) 920-6000 or (248) 620-6116.
Stewart said both she and Carr are looking for other employment.
Referring to a recent feature story in The Clarkston News, Taylor voiced specific disappointment at Carr’s departure.
‘Jane doesn’t have a ‘home? anymore,? she said.