NOV/DEC
2022
Garden Center Services
The View From My Chair A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
depends on dedicated, compassionate, and well supported employees.
Gerry & Brenae at the GCS Staff Holiday Party
As I write my article for this end-of-year edition of The Leaflet, I find myself very aware of how quickly time is flying by. It seems as if just yesterday I was writing my New Years’ resolutions for 2022. INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE VIEW FROM MY CHAIR Page 1 EXCEPTIONAL STAFF Page 2 WALK RECAP Page 3 THRIFT NEWS Page 4
Another feeling I’m mindful of is an anxiety around how long it is taking to provide persons with developmental disabilities the opportunities, experiences, and lives they deserve and have a right to. So much of an agencies’ ability to make the right things happen
Always remember people who have helped you along the way, and don’t forget to lift someone up. -Roy T. Bennett At Garden Center we have worked hard with our fellow disability providers and state-wide associations to demand a higher rate of pay for our staff. It is a concern that though the Illinois legislature has increased our rates over the last few years, they forget that there were many years before that where we were not receiving any type of increase. I am very pleased and proud of the loyal,
competent staff that we have and stand committed to continue to do right by them. One of the things persons with disabilities really struggle with is housing; safe, affordable housing. For individuals with more moderate to severe needs, there are our group homes and Intermediate Care Facilities, but for those persons that could live independently with minimal support there’s very little that’s out there. So as part of the agency’s mission to advance the lives of all persons with disabilities, Garden Center Services is applying for funding from the Illinois Housing Development Authority that would finance the construction of a 16-unit apartment building that would offer affordable living continued on page 4
GARDEN CENTER FAMILY GARDEN CENTER’S EXCEPTIONAL STAFF
In a time when many agencies like Garden Center are struggling to maintain quality staff, we are humbled and honored by our dedicated team. Recently, Garden Center held our annual Holiday Staff party. At that event, we recognize staff for accomplishments and years of service.
This year we had the opportunity to recognize the first graduates of our SEED, Skill Enhancement and Employee Development course. Garden Center launched this optional, three-part development program in fall GCS First SEED 2019. Participants take ten online classes, prepare and deliver a training Graduates! for their work group, and plan and take someone (or multiple people) they serve to do an activity they have never done before. Some of the activities planned by SEED graduates have included: kick boxing classes, camping, and a trip to the Wisconsin Dells. SEED graduates earn a new title designation, a raise, and will form an advisory group that will support agency-wide service enhancement initiatives. We are so proud of these staff and look forward adding even more SEED graduates to their ranks in the years to come. We were also enormously gratified to recognize the many GCS staff who reached service milestones this year. Garden Center recognized the following staff: 3 Years: Dora Sanchez, Adriana LaPointe, Kafina Smith, Latasha Shurn, Cathleen Johnson, Tishida Evans, Miranda Dormanen, Joanne Beagles, Jasmine Baker, Terri Tyler-Farr. 5 Years: Asia Fobb, Alan Maciel, Ashley Anderson. 10 Years: Melissa Sorensen, Griselda Hernandez, Ashley Davis, Shannon O Connell. 15 Years: Brigette Willis-Lewis, John Schuetz, and Kyla Anderson. Thank you for all you do!
GCS GEAR...is here!
John (15 yr s)
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Ashley (5 yr s)
Shop Garden Center Services
GCS Holiday Store opens NOV 1st Visit our website or https://gcsholiday2022.itemorder.com NOV 1st - NOV 21st while supplies last Orders will be shipped December 5th
Detail
in plenty of time for wrapping!
THIS IS NOT A FUNDRAISER Items are sold at cost and will be shipped directly to you.
TENDING OUR GARDEN
Support GCS While You Shop This Holiday Season Many of us will be doing at least some of our holiday shopping online. Don’t forget there are easy ways you can help GCS while you shop at no cost to you! Smile.Amazon.com Instead of going to Amazon.com, type in smile.amazon.com (the site, your account, items, prices, etc. are exactly the same). This tells amazon you want them to donate a portion of your purchase to charity. You will be prompted to choose your charity of choice - Garden Center Services! And then, whenever you shop at smile.amazon.com, Amazon gives .5% to GCS. When we all do it, it really adds up! Already registered with AmazonSmile? Don’t forget to turn on AmazonSmile in your mobile app to earn money for GCS while shopping from your phone! You’ll find it under settings. iGive
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®
iGive works with over 2300 of the most popular stores you shop online. Just go to igive.com and register. And each time you shop online at stores like Walmart, Crate & Barrel, PetCo., Best Buy, etc., those stores will donate a percentage of your purchase to GCS! Visit www. iGive.com/GardenCenter to get started.
ANOTHER SUPER...SUPER SUNNY WALK ‘N ROLL! This September, Garden Center held the 15th annual Super Sunny Walk ‘n Roll at our new location, St. Christina Fields, and it was a resounding success! Garden Center raised over $50,000 toward programs and services for adults with intellectual disabilities. A big thank you to the many donors, sponsors and volunteers who made this event possible. Please check out the list of generous walk sponsors below and help us show our appreciation to these great supporters of GCS. Feeling nostalgic? The QR code on the back of your walk shirt now links directly to our event photo page! Check it out: Point your smartphone camera at the QR code on your walk shirt (or at this pic) and click the link that appears on your screen. If you’re phone doesn’t read QR codes, just visit the Events link on GardenCenterServices.org.
OUR SPONSORS GOLD SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSORS
SUNNY SPONSORS
The Sherwood Family
The Doherty Family The Jurkiewicz Family David Cobb Remax Pete’s Service Center Athenian Body Shop RJ Till & Sons Plumbing PFK Mueller Accountants Hallberg/Valek Allstate Burbank Park District The Andersen Family Burbank Chamber CR Family Trust
Mary Kay Marrello Tom Porter State Farm Transamerica Financial Advisors The Conway Family Friends of Bill Cunningham Friends of Fran Hurley City of Burbank - Dan Foy Howard Beagles Amber Heating & Air Garvey’s Office Products Mahoney, Crowe, Goldrick & Cannon, P.C. Burbank Community Bank
SILVER SPONSORS The Ballis Family The Sibik Family Jenny Wojcik Insperity Services The Dahlke Family The Czepiel Family Chuck’s Cafe Burbank Wegner Family Charitable Fund The Haworth/Beagles Family M&O Insulation Company
Mark your
Another special thank you to: these businesses/organizations and our many donors and volunteers who made this event possible! Calabria Imports Cravings Jefe’s Catering Knights of Columbus #14553 St. Christina Fields
Save these important dates! NOV 24th & 25th Thanksgiving Holiday (Community Day Services closed) NOV 29th
Giving Tuesday - watch your mail for info
DEC 23rd-26th
Christmas Holiday (Community Day Services closed)
JAN 2nd
New Year’s Holiday (Community Day Services closed) Watch for details about Giving Tuesday in your mail soon!
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See Thrift Shoppe sale dates on the back of this newsletter!
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Growing dignity
SECOND CHANCE THRIFT NEWS Alaina Roche, Thrift Shoppe Manager
and independence
Things we are grateful for this holiday season: amazing volunteers, wonderful customers, and a generous community. It is not an overstatement to say we could not do this without our small but mighty crew.
8333 S. Austin Ave. Burbank, IL 60459 10444 S. Kedzie Chicago, IL 60655 phone 773-941-4151 email info@GardenCenterServices.org web www.GardenCenterServices.org
We have paper and digital gift cards for unique & quick gift-giving.
Our volunteers have been working hard to keep everything organized, create amazing displays, and donate their precious time to ensure the shoppe is a warm and welcoming part of our community. THANK YOU!
We need you! Visit www.GardenCenterServices.org and
follow the THRIFT link to volunteer or for more information.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS President
Donna Blair
Treasurer
Anthony Di Miele
Secretary
Cindy Malloy
Members
Lisa Beemsterboer
NOV 26th
Small Business Saturday 50% OFF Storewide!
DEC
Cocoa & Cookie Bar
DEC
75% OFF All Holiday
17th
Shannon Benaitis
26th - 31st
John Dahlke Mary Gill
Second Chance will be closed: Thanksgiving, Black Friday & Christmas Eve
Dr. Chris Grunow Mary Ann Lema Ava Rhodes - Smith Maria Zeimen, OSF
General Store Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 4pm Donation Hours: Thursdays & Saturdays 10am to 2pm
OUR MISSION Advancing lives of connection, contribution, and meaning for persons with developmental disabilities and the individuals that support them.
GCS VACATION PHOTOS!
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accommodations to persons with disabilities. We won’t find out until next March if we are awarded the funding but we’ll sure keep you informed of what is happening. Finally, with Thanksgiving just around the corner, I want to express the deep gratitude that my wife Cindy and I, as well as our Board of Directors have, for all the goodness and financial support many of you provide throughout the year. Garden Center Services is much more than a provider of disability services. We strive to be a community of care for those individuals that are served through our programs, and also for all of you that touch their lives in any way. We truly wish you all days of health, happiness, and safety. Peace,