Dear Friends of OTC, this is the time of year when we look back on the past twelve months and begin looking forward to the New Year. This time last year none of us knew what would confront us in 2020. Then the COVID 19 virus arrived as a roaring lion, forcing country after country to face month after month of unimaginable challenges. Despite the hope born of two very recently approved vaccines, those challenges remain. We at the OTC have not been exempt from the threats to human life caused by COVID 19. We too had to make hard decisions as we tried to put protocols in place that would protect the children and staff and at the same time allow us to continue serving the physically challenged who depend on us. By sending home all those who would not be negatively impacted by being discharged, we reduced our numbers to a small family of twelve. We divided the workshop into teams, each team on duty for two weeks at a time. With that schedule, we knew that if the virus infected someone in one group, that group could be sent home and be replaced by the other group. In spite of the challenges of 2020, you, our donors, have remained faithful in your kindness to us. Even during the lockdown some of you were able to get through road barriers by explaining to the police that you were bringing food to the OTC. Every gift we received has been a generous and loving response from you. Each has been very much appreciated by each of us. Now we look forward to 2021 while knowing that it will bring all of us new challenges. By partnering with you, we believe that we will continue to give hope to those we serve and to their families. We believe that we will continue to help our patients, one at a time, develop to their fullest potential and use their gifts for the good of society.Because of you and your sharing with us, the joy, peace, hope, and love that are the gifts of this Christmas season remain alive and well here at the OTC. We, in turn, pray daily that God will bless you and your loved ones with those same gifts now and throughout the year ahead.Gratefully yours, Sister Elizabeth Newman SSND