Article by AL.com – November 2020- National security thrives on preparing for worst case scenarios, being so prepared, indeed, as to prevent most threats from ever developing. The private businesses who work to maintain national security are proud of their role in supporting the military, the warfighter, and the citizens of our country. Still, other local challenges persist all around us; these smaller, local threats to healthy communities would be easy to ignore. Intuitive Research and Technology Corporation (INTUITIVE®) is one company that works to address local challenges in the Huntsville area, especially around the holidays when the disadvantaged are hurting most. And especially this year.
Elderly and Homebound, This Time of Year, This Particular Year
Many of us pared down our Thanksgiving plans this year due to the risks entailed to our seniors and vulnerable populations. The Alabama Department of Public Health, per recommendations of the CDC, suggested the following:
- Do not host or participate in any in-person gatherings if you or anyone in your household
- Has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and has not met the criteria for when it is safe to be around others
- Has symptoms of COVID-19
- Is waiting for COVID-19 viral test results
- May have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days
- Is at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19
Many aging seniors face isolation year-round in a “normal” year. CASA of Madison County has been helping seniors age with dignity for more than 40 years. CASA’s mission is to enable the aging and home-bound to live at home independently, safely, and with dignity. Their volunteer-performed services include increasing home accessibility and comfort, providing transportation, delivering nutrition, and even performing yard work or basic repairs. Help is dispensed based solely on need, without regard to income, race, social status, or religion.
“We have been able to continue our mission thanks to the support of our community, including our friends in the aerospace defense and business community,” said Ann Anderson, Executive Director of CASA of Madison County. “The outpouring of support during the COVID-19 pandemic from INTUITIVE, and others, has not taken us by surprise. In April of 2011, during the aftermath of the tornadoes, we saw our community come together to support one another. In that moment of crisis, INTUITIVE stepped up for CASA’s clients to be sure they were checked on and had the supplies they needed.”
This Thanksgiving, employees from INTUITIVE including experts in software, additive manufacturing, cybersecurity, systems engineering, missile defense, and other advanced specialties, reconnected with their community in the humblest fashion—providing and delivering meals for 40 homebound seniors. The turkey dinners they deliver will feed 6-8 people per box. The spirit of giving did not stop in Huntsville. INTUITIVE employees from offices in Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola, and Panama City provided and delivered 100 personal Thanksgiving meals for Meals on Wheels in the Fort Walton Beach community.
They will repeat this effort to provide Christmas meals in December. Along with meals, INTUITIVE employees will be sponsoring CASA clients, in which they will provide gifts from a CASA-provided wishlist.
At Risk Children Need Santa More Than Ever
This is a scary time for children at risk of abuse. Nationwide, calls and reports are down dramatically. . . but not because abuse is not occurring. Around 20% of referrals to child protective services usually come from school. Isolation and financial strain are almost certainly fueling abuse and diminishing reporting.
The National Children’s Advocacy Center (NCAC), located in Huntsville, Alabama, revolutionized the United States’ response to child abuse. Since its creation in 1985, the NCAC has served as a model for the 1000+ Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) now operating in the United States and in more than 34 countries throughout the world, with 9 more currently in development. The CAC model of a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) approach pulled together law enforcement, criminal justice, child protective services, and medical and mental health workers onto one coordinated team. CACs focus on prevention and intervention support.
Every year, INTUITIVE provides gifts from the life-changing to the plain old fun to some of the thousands of children the Huntsville CAC serves. They are using a virtual angel-tree concept to choose gifts for children: Legos, shoes, sports equipment, special-
needs glasses, etc. They will collect these gifts as a company from November 23 until December 4.
Employees at INTUITIVE jump on the opportunity to give back to the community. Sponsorships of individuals often go quickly and company-wide goals for donations is always exceeded. “Our unofficial slogan for this time of year is ‘engineering a difference’,” said Arlee Holmes, Corporate Communications Manager at INTUITIVE. “Although we rally for the communities in planned and emergent ways year-round, the holiday spirit makes these charity events the most fun.” As many companies in the Research Park ecosystem grow as a result of new opportunities relating to commercial spaceflight, the Artemis mission, the F.B.I facility, and other developments, INTUITIVE feels it is important to nurture communities in a commensurate way. “We are proud to live and do business in the unique Huntsville culture, and we want our neighbors to know that these are not two different worlds we inhabit—national security, private business, education, charity, military: we can all pull in a hopeful direction. This same mindset goes for all of our locations across the U.S.” she said.
If you’re interested in joining a premier team of innovative, dedicated problem-solvers, and community builders, please visit irtc-hq.com/careers to see what possibilities exist at INTUITIVE for you.