MAR/APR
2019
Garden Center Services
The View From My Chair A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Gerry & Patrick
INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE VIEW FROM MY CHAIR Page 1 HOME OF THEIR OWN Page 2 COOKING UP SKILLS Page 3 AROUND GCS Page 4
I’m so pleased to announce the celebration of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! Over the 46 years I have been working in the developmental disabilities field I have witnessed so many strides in the rights and choices for the wonderful persons we support. I am so grateful for all the hard work and effort put forth by the families and staff of Garden Center Services to ensure that the individuals that attend our programs are having the lives they deserve. Spurred by advocacy, President Ronald Reagan declared March to be Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in 1987. The deinstitutionalization movement of the seventies and early eighties had laid
the foundation for significant social change, and the presidential proclamation called upon Americans to provide the “encouragement and opportunities” necessary for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to reach their full potential. As those citizens began living within the general community, programs to provide job skills, job coaching and supported employment began to emerge. The idea that individuals with developmental disabilities could become productive members of the workforce was new to many people, and entrenched preconceptions and stigmas had to be overcome. With the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, workplace discrimination against people with disabilities became outlawed. The expectations of young people with developmental disabilities and their parents began to shift. Person centered lives of contribution and meaning within the community increasingly became the goal, and (increasingly) an obtainable goal. Now 32 years later, the month of March highlights
the contributions and needs of the estimated four million Americans living with a developmental disability. The power of ability over disability is all around us as people with autism, cerebral palsy, Downs Syndrome, and other disabilities blaze new trails. Today, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are living and working in the community; pursuing greater independence; developing wide-ranging interests; building relationships; and making their voices heard in all aspects of life. As people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the nation become increasingly visible in our daily lives, Garden Center Services remains committed to doing whatever it takes to improve and enhance the lives of persons with developmental disabilities. We hope you will join us this month as we celebrate the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Thank you for all your support!
GARDEN CENTER FAMILY TRULY A HOME OF THEIR OWN
Annie & Lisa
A few months back Annie at our Neenah home began having health issues that required specific medical equipment and regular medical care throughout the night. GCS staff did (and continue to do) an amazing job of providing the care that Annie needed, but it was hard on her roommate, Lisa. Lisa lost a fair amount of room space and was often disturbed during the overnight hours. Knowing that Annie’s medical needs will continue to require this equipment and level of care for some time, GCS staff hatched a plan. With the help of Essential Home Services in Chicago Heights, the garage at Neenah house was renovated into a beautiful bedroom for Lisa. Now Lisa and Annie both have the space, privacy and quiet they need.
UPDATES FROM THE FUND DEVELOPMENT TEAM QUEEN OF HEARTS Garden Center’s new Queen of Hearts Raffle is officially underway! All drawings will be held on Wednesdays at 7:30pm starting March 6th at Thee Snooty Fox & Hounds 501 Willow Blvd. in Willow Springs. Buy your tickets at Thee Snooty Fox & Hounds any day of the week from 11am to 2am or at GCS’s State Road building (ask for Yvonne or Denise) or at the Kedzie Building (ask for Shannon or Sandi) Mondays or Tuesdays between 10am and 3pm. Need not be present to win. 2019 GCS Gala Mark your calendars FRIDAY, OCT 4th 7pm Gaelic Park in Oak Forest The committee is already working on baskets for this amazing event! If you’d like to help, we are looking for all kinds of kitchen items; small appliances, utensils, cookbooks, etc. Bring a made-up basket or the committee would be glad to put a basket together with your items. Contact Sandi for more info scoleman@gardencenterservices.org.
GCS WALK n’ ROLL Save the Date for GCS’s Walk n’ Roll - June 1 Pledge packets will be mailed out April 1. EBTH has brought in a significant amount of funds for Garden Center through their auctions. If you have items you’d like to donate, please contact Karen at Second Chance Thrift Shoppe 630.243.1279.
A new documentary about the RidgeBeverly Little League, Play Ball, is donating a portion of their proceeds to GCS! Watch our Facebook page for info on upcoming showings.
SECOND CHANCE IS ON THE MOVE
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Garden Center’s Second Chance Thrift Shoppe was opened on July 1st, 2008. Proceeds of Second Chance sales go toward Garden Center’s programs and helps ease some of the financial strain of Illinois’ low funding rates. Recently, as a result of changes in terms from the owner of the Lemont building where Second Chance is housed as well as a desire to have the shop closer to GCS program sites to provide training opportunities for those we serve, the decision was made to relocate the thrift shop. The shop will be open in its current location through April. During the month of May, volunteers and Second Chance Thrift Shoppe employees will prepare for the move. We will notify everyone opened on July 1, 2008 when a new location has been found. It’s hard to put into words the incredible impact the shop has had on the lives of the individuals we support and how grateful we are to the volunteers and staff who have made that possible. While it is hard to leave the space Second Chance has called home for so long, we are looking forward to the opportunities having the thrift shoppe closer to our programs will provide for those we serve.
COOKING UP SKILLS & FUN AT GCS This past June we told you about our new teaching kitchen at the State Road building. The kitchen was renovated with funds generously donated in memory of Marianne Viverito to make it a useful space for teaching. Our cooking classes are now underway at both of our day program locations and everyone seems to be enjoying the delicious benefits. We are branching out to more challenging recipes and are in need of quality cookware and accessories that will allow us to provide an effective, energetic cooking program at both of our day programs. at Class g in k o Co Road State
If you would like to help us acquire new supplies for our cooking programs, please take a look at the enclosed flyer to learn more about how you can help.
THEY DESERVE MORE
GCS is fortunate to have amazing staff. Help us support them!
Mark your calendar...
GCS WALK ‘n ROLL will be Saturday,
June 1st
Despite the life-changing work and impact Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) provide to the people they serve, they earn wages that place them below the poverty level. Funding is critical in order to support administrative and operational expenses of homes and programs for people with disabilities. However, the state of Illinois has not taken into consideration the rise of inflation and cost of doing business for more than 15 years. Garden Center is part of the They Deserve More Coalition, a group of more than 80 disability service providers who have recently filed two bills in the Illinois General Assembly – HB 2148 and SB 1148 – that would help people with disabilities get the support and care they need by securing a living wage for direct support professionals. The bills would increase state funding so that DSPs and other crucial frontline staff earn wages at least $5 or more above the minimum wage. We need your help. Please watch for Action Alert emails and social media messages when it is time to contact your representatives in support of these bills and take action.
L I F E SIDE by SIDE
March is Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
Join us
Sunday, March 17th
11am to 1pm at Thee Snooty Fox & Hounds 501 Willow Blvd. in Willow Springs
for a St. Patrick Celebration
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Growing dignity
AROUND GARDEN CENTER
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
BOARD OF DIRECTORS President
Paul Krutulis
Vice President
Joan Strainis
Treasurer
Anthony Di Miele
Secretary
Florence Head
Members:
Tom Beemsterboer
at Smith nteering e craft lu vo l e n valentin and Ge Joshua to help with a e g Villa
Jeremiah poses with two volunteers from St. Laurence at the GCS Sweetheart Dance
Donna Blair Representative Fran Hurley Dave Rauen Ava Rhodes - Smith
Michaeux helps Carla make a book of her favorite memories
OUR MISSION Advancing lives of connection, contribution, and meaning for persons with developmental disabilities and the individuals that support them.
Genia shows off her creative side during the Disability Defenders Paint Party at Art from the Heart
Kathy & Leila making the most of Pizza night at the ICF!
GET A FREE INSURANCE & FINANCIAL REVIEW and earn $20 $60 for GCS!
Our friend, Joe Voves, at Countryside Financial has extended and enhanced his great offer that benefits GCS & you! For every person who schedules a FREE insurance & financial review with Joe before APRIL 15th, Country Financial & LaSalle Nova Capital will now donate a total of $60 to GCS! Shannon, Carla & Joe
Call 708.425.1527 appointment today!
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schedule
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