Valley partnership
as this year’s project recipient was the alignment of their mission and Valley Partnership’s mission,” Jones says. Another reason was, “The cost of homelessness affects us all — no matter where we live. And the saddest statistic of all, the number of homeless children that continues to grow,” says Delores Ferguson, Division President for CCMC.
SARRC
Dena Jones: 2013 project chairman
The Valley Partnership Community Service recipient for 2012 was SAARC. On Saturday Nov. 3, 2012, Valley Partnership volunteers spent the day renovating the garden and hydroponic greenhouse at the vocational and life skills academy. At the SARRC preschool, volunteers built a garden space and painted a mural. Volunteers installed new work stations, a new irrigation system and added plants. The site was enhanced with a brick wall and sculptural pieces sprinkled throughout the garden. Jeri Kendle, president of the SARRC leadership team, says the renovations have improved the programs for the more than 12,000 children, teens and adults they serve. “The project has provided us with a platform to prepare our adults with gardening skills while offering herbs and veggies to local restaurants and farmer’s markets,” Kendle adds. The garden program trains and hires adults with autism to make planters that sell in the community. “The garden works program is a connector for young adults and adults, which promotes language, following directions, and socialization. It’s a motivating connector,” says Denise , SARRC co-founder.
Work began early in the morning last Nov. 3 as Valley Partnership volunteers renovated SARRC's facilities (facing page; above, top photo). Teamwork was the key. “The new amenity is enthusiastically embraced by staff parents and the community.” Adds longtime Valley Partnership community project volunteer Steve Hoover, Division Manager for SiteWorks: “It’s like putting the star on top of the tree; it’s an extreme makeover kind of feel.” “The 2012 project is providing training, employment and most importantly a future for our young adults with autism,” Kendle says. 63