Posted on November 27, 2024
“My faith tells me that you need to help people.”
Katrina at the Penn-Mar carnival, ready to serve.
Katrina Cooper started cutting people’s hair when she was 17 and went on to build a cosmetology career and several related businesses. By the age of 60 she decided she was “done with that” and, at the suggestion of her sister, applied for a DSP job at Penn-Mar’s PA Day Program.
Katrina was very familiar with Penn-Mar and remembers when the organization started with only five people at her home church, Maryland Line Methodist. Growing up on a nearby farm she would come to know many people connected to Penn-Mar so she decided to go on her “first ever interview” and see what the DSP job might entail.
During the interview she was asked if she could be “creative and proactive” which immediately appealed to her anything-and-everything-is-possible personality. But many people were being considered for the position and no one was more surprised to get the offer than Katrina.
“I really enjoyed my job and woke up every morning looking forward to going to work. I am a real advocate for people with disabilities being seen and allowed to experience and have opportunities like the rest of us.
Getting to know the people I supported helped me to see their potential, which built trust and allowed me to try new things with them.”
Katrina’s life motto is “If it doesn’t work, go to Plan B!” And that’s what she did to give each person she supported new experiences and relationships in the community.
Yet Katrina was surprised at how people with disabilities were sometimes viewed there. “A lot of it made me sad,” she admits. “There were times when I didn’t feel like they were seen or valued and that bothered the heck out of me.”
At the age of 65, after five years as an extraordinarily pro-active DSP, Katrina retired in 2022 but Penn-Mar “kept reeling me back in” she says laughing.
According to DSP Angela Shaffer, “Katrina continues to make Penn-Mar a priority in her life now that she is retired. She has been an integral part in helping those we support to build and maintain relationships with the people we volunteer with over the years. Katrina laid the groundwork for this while employed at Penn-Mar.”
Katrina always finds a way to stay connected to those she used to support, volunteering with a group at the Whispering Rise Pig Sanctuary in Baltimore and at Life Path helping people with disabilities lead “everyday lives.”
While still working at Penn-Mar, Katrina organized the Halloween Party for the Day Program at Far Hills but dreamed of putting together a Carnival there too. On October 4th that dream came true as her retirement afforded her more time to plan and execute the details.
Nearly 100 people attended the Carnival described by Tina Chan Sweenie, Associate Director of Development Volunteer and Donor Engagement as “a true reflection of the amazing community that surrounds Penn-Mar.” She credited Katrina’s dedication, hard work and spirit for bringing the event to life.
“My faith tells me that you need to help people,” said Katrina. “My parents had a lot of kids to support and worked a dairy farm. But it wasn’t unusual at the end of a hard day for my mother to take us with her to visit a cancer patient.
Don’t make me feel like I wear a halo; a lot of people are doing what I do, and I hope it motivates others to do so. I just can’t be laying on the beach sipping umbrella drinks. I need to be moving and grooving!”
Many thanks to the Lions Club of Shrewsbury, M&T Bank, Bank of America, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Fire Department of York County for providing funding and staff support for Penn-Mar’s Carnival. Having community partners like Katrina Cooper and Renee Edwards of the Lion’s Club of Shrewsbury organize and coordinate events like the Carnival makes a significant impact. Their support is invaluable for nonprofits, enhancing our programs and giving us the time and resources to concentrate on our mission. We invite individuals, organizations, and businesses to explore how their participation in initiatives like this can create a meaningful impact.