The View From My Chair
A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Our Amazing Maintenance Team: Bryan & Alan
It’s hard to believe that soon it will be mid-November and we’ll all be making plans for our Thanksgiving celebrations. With all the tension and conflict that are present in many parts of our world, it is still very true that we have much to be grateful for. I have been emphasizing to our staff recently that my gratitude for our agency just continues to grow as I experience Garden Center Services as being a haven of safety, support, and kindheartedness for the individuals we serve and for our employees.
I have frequently spoken about our services and programs and how proud I am regarding the quality of our supports and the high marks we get from the state surveys. An additional massive area of responsibility that we deal with is the upkeep, maintenance, and repair of the agency’s many properties and vehicles! We currently have 10 group homes, the 15 bed ICF, the
State Road community day services program, the thrift shop/administrative offices on Kedzie Avenue, and 25 vehicles at last count! Now, knowing the wear and tear on your homes and cars, can
you the imagine the impact over time on our holdings!
Overseeing this huge task are the two fine gentlemen you see pictured here; Mr. Bryan Kochanny, Director of Maintenance and Transportation and Alan Maciel, Maintenance Specialist. Yes, you heard me right, TWO!! I am amazed at what these guys are able to take care of. Under the direction of Mr. Ralph Storino, Director of Fiscal Management, Bryan and Alan repair many things on their own and also manage the subcontractors that are brought in to work on more complex concerns or new installations.
Just in the last six weeks or so here are some of the projects we’ve tackled; painted multiple bathrooms at the Moody CILA, completely redesigned two bathrooms at the ICF to be totally accessible, painted one of the
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GARDEN CENTER FAMILY
GCS SPEAKS UP AND SPEAKS OUT
GCS GEAR...is here!
Each October a group from Garden Center attends the annual Speak Up Speak Out Summit for self advocates. Typically the 3-day event is held in Springfield, but this year the conference was remote.
Although we missed seeing the many friends we’ve made across the state in person, we still had a fantastic time at online breakout sessions that covered several important topics including:
• Talking with Civility
• Dignity in Pay
• Supportive Housing
• Guardianship
• Supportive Employment
• Advocacy Through Art
• Creating System-Wide Change
• Keys to Engaging with Decision-Makers
• Building Financial Strength
• How to Ask for Accommodations
• Advocating for Health & Wellness
• Controlling Our Own Destiny
It was a great event and we are looking forward to 2025 when the summit will return to an in-person event in Springfield!
GCS has a cozy, new, zip-up hoodie that will be the perfect gift for everyone on your list!
Order yours on our website NOW through NOV. 25th
Orders will be available for pickup at Second Chance Thrift Shoppe starting Dec. 12th during regular business hours. THIS IS NOT A FUNDRAISER
Sizes S - 4x ONLY $25!
NOW! www.GardenCenterServices.org
Second Chance Thrift Shoppe Did you know that Second Chance has everything you need to get your home ready for the holidays at AMAZING prices? Stop by and check us out! We also have gift cards - the perfect holiday gift! TENDING OUR GARDEN - Do Good When you Shop!
Many of us will be doing at least some of our holiday shopping online. Why not use iGive? You can help GCS (at no cost to you) with each purchase. iGive works with over 2300 of the most popular stores you shop online. Just go to igive.com and register. Each time you shop online at stores like Walmart, Crate & Barrel, PetCo., Best Buy, and more, those stores will donate a percentage of your purchase to GCS! Visit www.iGive.com/GardenCenter to get started.
GARDEN CENTER’S NEW SHARED LIVING PROGRAM
Informational Meeting
Shared Living Info. Meeting
NOV. 27th 2:30pm 8333 S. Austin Burbank
Shared Living (also called Host Home) programs are a housing option where people open their doors to a person or persons with developmental disabilities and offer them a safe, loving place to call home. Shared Living Providers are independent contractors who receive tax-free compensation for caring for individuals in their home or a home leased to them by Garden Center. For many, being a caretaker is an opportunity to make a difference in the community, but it’s also a chance to spend more time with family, live in a nice home, and even move to a better school district!
If you or someone you know might be interested in becoming a Shared Living Provider, join us Nov. 27th 2:30pm at the State Road Building to learn more and get your questions answered.
RSVP to Cindy at chaworth@GardenCenterServices.org.
Unable to attend? Email Cindy or call 708-887-8593 for more information.
SUPER SUNNY WALK ‘N ROLL WRAP UP!
We had a great time at Garden Center’s 2024 Super Sunny Walk ‘n Roll and raised $47,500 for programs and services at Garden Center! Help us show some love for our event sponsors below and be sure to save the date for next year’s event! Next year’s Super Sunny Walk ‘n Roll will be Saturday, September 27, 2025.
OUR SPONSORS
PLATINUM
The Sherwood Family
The Sibik Family/
Joyce Okal | LW Ready
GOLD
The Beemsterboer Family
SILVER
Kevin & Jane Doherty
Chucks So. Comforts Cafe’ Insperity Services
Mary Kay Marrello
The Haworth/Beagles
Family
BRONZE
Athenian Body Shop
David J Cobb - Remax
Burbank Park District
The Craig Head Family
Jenny Wojcik
Stratos Wealth Mgmt.
Tony Di Miele
SUNNY
The Shadden-Perez Family
Mahoney, Crowe, Goldrick & Cannon, P.C.
The City of Burbank
Pete’s Service Center
Friends of Rep. Mary Gill Friends of Bill Cunningham Victoria Kudlinski
RJ Till & Sons Howard Beagles
A special thank you to these businesses/organizations, our many donors & volunteers who made this event possible!
St. Christina Fields PepsiCo
Wolf’s Bakery
Marist Poms
Ramar
Jewel Osco
Whittingham Meats
Jack & Pat’s Butcher Shop
Knights of Columbus
Pop’s on Kedzie
Cravings Ice Cream
Duffy Design
St. Laurence High School
at one of January’s new “Open Meetings” where we will discuss data collected over the 4th quarter in our effort to further
Growing dignity and independence
8333
Advancing lives of connection, contribution, and meaning for persons with developmental disabilities and the individuals that support them.
SECOND CHANCE THRIFT SALES
FREE PHOTO WITH SANTA!
Bring your own device & take a Nov. 30th
10 am to 1pm
GIVE THE GIFT OF TIME Any time you can help is appreciated. If you can sign up for one three-hour shift a week, that would be
OR
ICF DOES IT AGAIN!
Shop our Nov. Super Sale and snag a photo with the big guy himself... for free!
Garden Center is surveyed by multiple State and Federal bodies 5 to 6 times annually depending on the year. Recently, Garden Center sought out (and achieved!) an additional accreditation by the Council on Quality and Leadership - a private accrediting body with a focus on quality services and outcomes for the people we serve which will increase that annual survey number a little more.
This past September, the Department of Public Health conducted their survey at the ICF. Surveyors review a wide array of items including general upkeep of the home, medical appointments and followup, goal implementation, program planning, staff knowledge and training, and more.
The ICF received “zero deficiencies” on the survey which is unusual for the surveyors, but not for Garden Center’s ICF. It is their second time to receive this honor. Congratulations to Sheryl Kincinas, Director of ICF, Micheaux Stuckey, ICF Manager, and the whole ICF team for this amazing accomplishment!
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BMA Manor apartments, laid the extensive in-ground piping needed for the new generator that will power the ICF in case of a natural disaster, and mechanical work on multiple vehicles. Please realize these are the projects dealt with in addition to all the daily crisis that come up.
The other fact that I can share with you is that there is very little state funding provided to cover the extraordinary expense of these physical plant needs. We spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to keep our properties safe and looking nice, and it is our fund development efforts that help make this possible, which is a great opportunity to talk about Giving Tuesday!
This year, Giving Tuesday will be on Dec. 3rd. This is a day identified nationally when individuals and businesses are asked to consider making charitable donations to non-profits as a way of kicking off the Christmas Season of caring. Here at Garden Center Services we would certainly appreciate it if you would choose our agency as one of the organizations you donate to.
Thank you, and on behalf of myself, Cindy, and the Board of Directors, may you all have safe, healthy, and joy filled holidays.
