There are charitable organizations all over the world in need of aid, but often, you need look no further than your local community. Joe Barrett, president of Barrett’s Technology Solutions in Naperville, Ill., stumbled upon a worthy cause in his hometown, a charity called Almost Home Kids.
Almost Home Kids is a short-term transitional and respite care facility for children with complicated health needs. The healthcare facility gives children a home-like environment where they can feel loved and cared for while also getting the medical attention they need before transitional safely home. From 24-hour respites to transitions that span multiple months, the Almost Home Kids facility is there to provide children with a medically safe environment, as well as training for parents on their child’s own home medical equipment.
Upon visiting the non-profit for the first time, Barrett immediately knew he wanted to get involved. He invited Judith McLean, director of marketing and communications at Almost Home Kids, to speak at the smart home company’s 50th anniversary celebration. That night, Barrett’s Technology Solutions, a member of the Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA), made the commitment with the help of its vendors to support the local charity with a professional audio video installation.
“We are so grateful to Joe for getting involved, and to everyone at Barrett’s for their incredible donation,” says McLean. “The state-of-the-art television installations have transformed our home immeasurably, and the Sonos system is everyone’s favorite – the children and nursing staff love to hear music playing throughout our home. Thank you to everyone at Barrett’s for making a real and lasting difference at Almost Home Kids.”
Upgrade Adds 2 Sony TVs, Sonos System
Initially, the home’s audio video system was limited to a few Sonos products and a small, outdated television. The Barrett’s Technology Solutions team worked with what Almost Home Kids already had, upgrading and improving where needed.
- Sonos Sound System: Barrett’s Technology Solutions donated more Sonos Play:5 speakers and installed the devices in the optimal locations throughout the facility so that the families and staff could enjoy music with ease.
- 40-inch Sony 4K Television in Kitchen: The tiny television in the kitchen was replaced with ultra-high definition Sony. The cluttered wires on the counter were eliminated during the professional install.
- 75-inch Sony 4K Television in Presentation Room: With the new Sony 75-inch display, the Almost Home Kids staff are now able to do proper presentations for families and first-time visitors.
“The children at Almost Home Kids for transitional care are often there for several months, and during that time the clinical staff and volunteers manage to make their stay positive and give them the best care possible,” says Barrett.
“Often, the kids have limited mobility, so this audio video installation gives them the opportunity to dive into the wonderful world of movies and television. I’m honored to be able to have a role in making the children’s lives a little bit easier.”
If you would like to assist Almost Home Kids in their mission to provide training and care for children with medical needs, visit www.almosthomekids.org today.
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our digital newsletters!
