Sheriff's Office, Benjamin Moore Help Bergen Stroke Survivors

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — The Bergen County Sheriff's Office and Benjamin Moore teamed up to provide the Adler Aphasia Center with holiday makeover.

The sheriff's office provided the labor to paint the center. The project will take about a week to complete. Inmates from the Bergen County Jail's work release program conducted the labor.

"We continue to be inspired by the generosity of our community, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and our corporate partner, Benjamin Moore," Chantelle Walker, president and CEO of the center, said in a statement.

Aphasia is a language disorder resulting from brain damage often caused by a stroke. Nearly 40 percent of stroke survivors have aphasia; an estimated 70,000 people in New Jersey. Only 2 percent of people with aphasia participate in long-term rehabilitation programs. The condition has been shown to improve over time with therapy, which is what the center provides.

The center serves 85 people with aphasia and 100 volunteers.

The center also oversees 11 aphasia communication groups throughout a state that run post-rehabilitation programs that help address the long-term needs of people with aphasia and their families.

"The sheriff's office was glad to partner on this project and it is my hope to continue growing meaningful opportunities for the benefits of both the inmates in our work release program and the greater-Bergen County community," Sheriff Anthony Cureton said in a statement.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com