With the current COVID 19 pandemic, Amego has staff working 24-hour shifts in our 44 group homes serving 201 children and adults with autism to minimize exposure to our clients. Since March 20th, our payrolls have been running $250,000 over our typical expenses. A portion, approximately $30,000 per payroll, is for staff bonuses. The remainder of the expenses involve overtime costs and incentive differentials related to longer shifts by our staff in most of our homes. In total, our extra payroll expenses related to COVID-19 totals are approximately $750,000 to as of April 28, 2020.

As of April 28th, we have exceeded the $250,000 mark in expenses related to purchasing Personal Protective Equipment. We will be receiving an increase in funding from the state for purchasing PPE for the months of May and June, but it will not be retroactive to help cover our existing expenses. We will continue to need to purchase PPE. We are grateful for the additional financial support that will be coming in the months ahead but in total we are looking at close to a million dollars in COVID-19 related expenses to date.

Quotes from our families and stakeholders through this difficult time can be viewed by visiting our website at https://www.amegoinc.org/messages-to-staff/

Below are a few for your review:

"The front line work-force at Amego is, always has been, and always will be the heart and soul of this great agency and our mission. Thank you for all you are doing during this most difficult period."- John Randall, President and CEO, Amego, Inc.

"Three cheers for the Bay Road staff of angels and saints. We are so grateful for their kindness, perseverance, competence, and caring, especially in these very stressful times." -Blair and Wayne Kernochan

"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking care of all of the clients at Norwood house at this trying time! We appreciate you more then you will ever know! We are so privileged to have such caring staff to watch over our loved ones and we feel so lucky to be part of such a big family!" -Nancy and Michael Borr

"I cannot fully express how grateful I am for Timmy having such dedicated staff. You are doing a spectacular job, and your hard work is greatly appreciated. I know Timmy is in good hands. Thank you so very much." -Lisa Brown

"We can't thank you enough for your commitment to Matthew and the other guys at Red Coat. Matt always sounds good on the phone and today I got some great photos from Jenny. Matt was smiling in all of them. That really made me feel better. Looking forward to the day Matthew can come home and I can thank you all in person. Fondly, Rosemarie"

"Junior, Pa, Sosa, Drew, and other staff of Millis House- Thanks to all of the Millis House staff who continue to take care of Coleman and his housemates. Under ordinary circumstances I would not be able to do what you do everyday. Now, during extraordinary times I want to say I am thinking of you and the care and attention that must be even more challenging. Junior, you took over leadership at the Millis house and from my end, it seems like your calm, caring attention to all matters is winning out. You must know that Cole loves you and being around you. Pa, I know that Cole is in good, strong hands with you and you keep me informed of the important matters about my son. You make us both laugh and bring joy every time, everywhere. Sosa, you are there through thick and thin and that means a great deal to everybody. I hope you let more of that laugh, and smile out cause it makes everybody feel good. Drew, sometimes I think I hear your voice and then I realize, no, I'm safe down here in Attleboro! Ha ha! You keep it all organized I think, you keep everybody in line and moving forward, playing tough, but I see the love and care shining through! Thank You All, I admire, respect and love what you do." -Peter Dames