MAR/APR
2022
Garden Center Services
The View From My Chair A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Carol & Gerry
INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE VIEW FROM MY CHAIR Page 1 SEP UPDATE Page 2 SECOND CHANCE Page 3 AROUND GCS Page 4
It has been 35 years since President Ronald Reagan made a formal proclamation that the month of March would be recognized as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Three years after that, in 1990, the Americans With Disabilities Act was passed that helped to advance the rights of millions of Americans with developmental disabilities. Currently, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention states that 1 in 6 children and 1 in 4 adults in the United States are living with a developmental disability.
With all the proclamations, acts, and exposure we’ve had, one would think we’d be further along with putting into place the necessary services, programs, opportunities and funding that would truly allow persons with a developmental disability to have the lives of connection, contribution, and meaning they deserve.
There is no greater disability in society than the inability to see a person as more.
-Robert M. Hensel There’s no doubt that there have been some positive changes for individuals with disabilities over the last few decades, and we are grateful for those changes. However, the truth is that those changes were just the basic building blocks and there are so many people that were not
even exposed to them! The state’s financial situation has just recently become more stabilized and positive. The years of economic variability, indebtedness, and downgrading of our bond status had led to years of minimal rate increases which meant our funding became increasingly inadequate. We’re finally coming off an FY22 budget that made a historic investment in I/ DD services and supports, and we need to ensure that the legislature continues this trend.
GARDEN CENTER SERVICES
continued on page 4
GARDEN CENTER FAMILY SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT UPDATE - JONATHAN IS BACK TO WORK! Jonathan, landed a great job at Burger King just three months before the pandemic hit in 2020, but like many, he lost his employment during the subsequent lockdown. In January, however, Jonathan headed back to work, this time for Chik-fil-A in Chicago Ridge and he couldn’t be happier. “I enjoy this job a lot. I have good people working with me. The money is very nice too!” Despite the challenges COVID has imposed, Garden Center’s Supported Employment Program (SEP) continues to help those we serve fulfill their goal of employment. Garden Center uses a customized employment model that focuses on individual interests to find work that best suits each person. Patrick, who loves all things car-related is thrilled Jonathan started at Chick-fil-A in January with his job at Wash-U Carwash in Burbank, and Jake, who loves putting things in alphabetical order, found his perfect match organizing media at Prairie Trails Library. This customized approach takes a little more time, but the outcomes are definitely worth the effort. We currently have 11 people employed through the program, two people in the process of job identification, and several more who are eager to get started. If you have a business or know of one that is looking for some truly dependable, dedicated, and enthusiastic employees, please contact Adriana LaPointe, Community Integration Specialist by phone at 708.398.6504 or by email at aLaPointe@GardenCenterServices.org.
GARDEN CENTER’S NEW NORMAL As COVID numbers continue to drop in our area, we are looking forward to the easing of restrictions. Before our return to day programming in March 2021 following the initial COVID lockdown, Garden Center’s maintenance staff built walls and added doors to separate the State Road building into four quadrants. These divisions allowed us to keep groups separated to contain potential virus outbreaks. As COVID numbers continue to drop in our area, we look forward to opening those sections so that people are able to visit more freely with friends.
Sherri
& Rusty take Other things we are looking forward to as COVID numbers continue to decline, is a break during a recen getting back out more into our communities and the return of our robust volunteer Shedd Aqutarvisit to ium program. Although we resumed some of our volunteer activities in March 2021 with Meals on Wheels and The Children’s Museum of Oak Lawn, many sites did not reopen to volunteers as a result of COVID safety measures. Just this week, Garden Center staff began to reach out to previous volunteer sites to get new plans in place.
If you know of any programs that are looking for some great volunteers, please contact Adriana LaPointe, Community Integration Specialist by phone at 708.398.6504 or by email at aLaPointe@GardenCenterServices.org.
TENDING OUR GARDEN In January, the much needed renovation on three bathrooms at the Moody apartments was completed. The renovation made the spaces not only more beautiful, but also more functional. In December, renovation was completed on the two bathrooms at the Lombard house. The project, generously funded by the Service Club of Chicago, created more accessible bathrooms to accommodate the changing needs of the women who live there.
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House Lombard
Thank you Service Club of Chicago!
Moody Ap artments
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ance Thrift Ch
In 2020, Garden Center planned to move our very popular Second Chance Thrift Shoppe closer to our program sites. The goal was, in large part, to facilitate work & employment training opportunities for individuals in Garden Center’s Supported Employment program. When the pandemic hit, Garden Center was a week away from finalizing a contract to move Second Chance Thrift Shoppe to the old Car Quest Auto Parts building in Burbank. It soon became apparent that moving forward with the thrift shop at that time would not be possible.
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Secon d
SECOND CHANCE IS GETTING READY FOR IT’S SECOND CHANCE
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G a rd e n C e nt er S
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When we returned to day services outside of the home in 2021, it made sense to provide all services at our State Road location. This left the downstairs of the Kedzie building free for another Floors have been resurfaced where needed use, and it is the perfect location for our new Second Chance. Just this week, a construction crew finished renovating the lower level for the new storefront with a designated area for programming activities. A small group of Garden Center program participants will train and work at the thrift shop in addition to participating in additional programming activities in that designated space. Second Chance has always been nearly 100% volunteer run. This enables us to fulfill our goal of putting as much of the shop’s revenue as possible into our programs. It is a fun atmosphere with amazing people, and has some pretty cool perks too! We are currently looking for volunteers to help in all areas of the thrift including receiving & sorting donations, stocking shelves, working checkout, and more! Contact Alaina, Second Chance Thrift Shoppe Manager, for more Several wa lls have b een remo information at 773-941-4151 Ext. 221 or by email at aRoche@gardencenterservices.org. to open ved the spac e
We look forward to opening the store this Spring. Watch our social media channels and website for more information as we get closer to the big day. A special thank you to The Coleman Foundation for their generous grant that helped fund the transformation of the space.
Meet Alaina Roche, Second Chance Thrift Shoppe’s New Store Manager If she looks a little familiar, it may be because Alaina is the sister of Mary Forster who works at Garden Center’s State Road program. The sisters share a bubbly enthusiasm that fits right in with the Garden Center culture. Alaina grew up in Burbank and now lives in Oak Lawn. She comes to us from REI Co-Op, the well-known outdoor gear company, for who Alaina opened several new stores across the country. Her extensive experience in starting new retail stores is only one of the reasons Alaina was a great fit for the thrift manager position. She also has substantial experience as a Retail Sales Specialist, and most importantly, has a passion for supporting Garden Center’s mission. Alaina’s first day at Garden Center was February 28th. She said she can hardly wait to get the new thrift shop up and running sharing, “I’m so excited to create a new store and introduce more people to Garden Center!” Welcome Alaina, we are excited to have you on our team!
calendar...
LET’S PLAY BALL!
The Sunny Smash Softball Tournament prep is in full swing This will be a real, live, in-person, zoom-free, event! Get your team roster together now to get in on the tournament or just mark your calendar to enjoy some sunshine and root on the players. We are so excited that this is Garden Center’s first event right in the heart of Mt. Greenwood, a community that has been so welcoming to us!
2022
Mark your
Alaina Roche Second Chance Manager
St. Christina Fields
11149 S Central Park Ave, Chicago
GCS needs YOUR help: We’re looking TEAM REGISTRATION $300 for sponsors, teams, and volunteers. Please share with family & friends! Registration is Open Now! CONTACT Shannon at soconnell1@gardencenterservices.org or Sandi at scoleman@ gardencenterservices.org for details.
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Growing dignity
AROUND GCS
and independence 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
Perry &
BOARD OF DIRECTORS President
John Dahlke
Vice President
Donna Blair
Treasurer
Anthony Di Miele
Secretary
Cindy Malloy
Members
Lisa Beemsterboer
e
Michell
Krista & Darling Bilbo Waggins
Shannon Benaitis Mary Gill Dr. Chris Grunow Rep. Fran Hurley Ava Rhodes - Smith Maria Zeimen, OSF
Kelly Jo, Shelby & Patrick celebrate Fat Tuesday!
Seeds Future
OUR MISSION Advancing lives of connection, contribution, and meaning for persons with developmental disabilities and the individuals that support them.
Tim and s me fish at the So hedd Aquafriends rium
for the
Garden Center Services LEGACY SOCIETY
Contact Gerry at 773-941-4151 Ext. 201 for more information. continued from page 1
The picture on the cover of this issue is of me and Carol, a beautiful, caring woman that just passed after living in one of our homes for 31 years. In addition to Carol, we’ve sadly had several other precious individuals pass away from natural causes over the past year. It was an honor and privilege to serve these persons, and I always find myself asking, “Did we do enough for them?”, “Did we have the financial support to give them the lives they deserved?” Over the next month as you receive advocacy alert emails from me, please follow through and reach out to your legislators imploring them to increase funding for the inspirational individuals we support, as well as a living wage for our heroic employees. Who knows, maybe someday we won’t need a Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and we’ll just have a Human Beings Awareness Year! That would be cool! Please have a safe and joyful Spring and Easter! Peace,