The View From My Chair
A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Hailey, Gerry & Karen
Happy September
Everyone! It gives me great pleasure to introduce two bright, young women that have joined the Garden Center Services’ Development team. Please join me in welcoming Karen Grossich and Hailey Kmetty to our team and I would truly appreciate any support and good stories that you can share with them. I am really excited to actually have a development team at the
organization and we are really looking at stepping up our game both in terms of the discretionary funding we bring into the agency, as well as increasing the recognition Garden Center has in our community.
They could not have come on board at a better time as we have a couple of important undertakings that are quickly approaching. Next week we, and the entire country, will be celebrating Direct Support Professional Recognition Week!
This is an awesome chance for all of us to focus on the committed, compassionate direct support professionals that are the real heroes that daily care for and assist the individuals with
disabilities that Garden Center is honored to serve. We currently have 79 Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) at the agency and many of them have been with us for quite a few years! We want to do all we can to demonstrate to these fine staff how valuable they are and how much we appreciate their dedicated service.
For this upcoming DSP Week we want to invite you, the parents/ guardians/families/& friends, to join us in the effort to really show our gratitude and respect to these individuals that provide such quality programs to our loved ones. Inside the Leaflet you’ll find an article sharing ideas on how you can help. We’re also looking for any gift cards
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GARDEN CENTER FAMILY
NEW GCS ROLES WILL HELP PEOPLE CONNECT WITH THEIR COMMUNITIES
Bill & Bre making the most of a chilly morning
Garden Center has been working on several initiatives to bolster the engagement of those we serve to be even more active participants in their communities. We have created several new positions to help us reach that goal.
ACTIVITY COORDINATOR
In July of this year, Garden Center’s CDS program created an Activity Coordinator position whose sole focus is to help those we serve get out and participate in their communities during the weekdays. In the short time our Activity Coordinator, Bre Scott, has been in the position, she has taken people to do so many interesting things including petting wolves at a local animal sanctuary and visiting the botanical gardens. Soon, she will be making the trek to a local orchard for apple picking.
EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST
We have seen the incredible difference a job or volunteer opportunity can make in the self-esteem of those we serve; even participating only three hours a week makes an impact. In an effort to build on Garden Center’s existing volunteer and employment programs, we are currently looking for a full-time Employment Specialist who will create additional volunteer and employment opportunities for those we serve to choose from. Contact Michele, Mhula@GardenCenterServices.org for more info.
COMMUNITY CONNECTORS
Although those in our homes keep pretty busy social calendars, we are also hiring Community Connectors who will help them engage in their community in the evenings and on weekends. This will give people the chance to participate in activities individually or in a small groups. Read more about the Community Connector positions on the back of The Leaflet.
ANNOUNCING GARDEN CENTER’S NEW OPEN MEETING
In the last issue of The Leaflet, we told you about our recent accreditation from the Council on Quality and Leadership. We are delighted to have accomplished this goal and are looking forward to working to even further enhance our services. Part of that process will involve extensive data collection and review on an agency-wide basis. We want to share the information we collect with you and get your ideas and feedback. Starting in January, Garden Center will hold our new, quarterly “Open Meeting”. At this meeting, we will share data collection on several key indicators that impact our program’s quality and effectiveness. (This information will also be shared at our quarterly Friends & Family Forum so you can choose to attend the meeting that best meets your needs).
Keep an eye out for more information on Open Meeting coming soon!
Tending Our Garden
If you have event or sports tickets you’d like to share with Garden Center, contact Anne at amcferron@GardenCenterServices.org
ATION WEEK
Sept. 8 - Sept 14
Direct Support Professional Appreciation Week is a national celebration of the dedication, hard work, and passion that DSPs devote toward supporting people with disabilities to live the most independent and fulfilling lives possible. It’s a time for all human service professionals, families, friends, and supported individuals to acknowledge the key role that these essential, frontline, employees play in enhancing the lives of those they support. This year DSP Recognition Week will take place September 8th – 14th.
We would love for you to join us in celebrating our DSPs! Post a message for our staff to our social media pages, send in a heartfelt note, treats, or even a gift card for one of our many drawings. Not enough time? Visit GardenCenterServices. org to donate toward a gift card and we’ll pick one up for you! Contact Michele at mhula@GardenCenterServices.org for more information.
SUPER SUNNY WALK ‘N ROLL
Sept. 21st • St. Christina Fields • Walk Starts at 11am
The Super Sunny Walk ‘n Roll will be here before you know it! We can’t wait to see you all again to enjoy a fun walk, great music, awesome games, and eat some delicious food prepared by our friends, the Knights of Columbus.
Visit our website to register TODAY! www.GardenCenterServices.org
8th - 14th
Growing dignity 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
SECOND CHANCE THRIFT SALES
28th
Special Tag Sales
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.
26st 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 terrific! Visit our website and follow the THRIFT link for more information OR reach out to Gerry directly at 708-560-4400.
DO YOU LOVE GOING OUT AND HAVING FUN WITH COOL PEOPLE?
Garden Center is now looking for Community Connectors!
The main focus of the Community Connector is to assist people in getting connected to their community. Connectors will find interesting and reasonably priced activities for people to attend in their communities and attend those activities with them. This person might accompany a person to the church they would like to attend or help them find a club for one of their interests. Most importantly, the Connector will help the person develop friendships with people in their community. Community Connector shifts are 4 hours in length. Current open shifts include: Tuesdays 4-8pm, Thursdays 4-8pm, Saturdays 8am-12pm, Saturdays 1pm-5pm, Sundays 8am-12pm, and Sundays 1pm-5pm.
Contact Michele for more information: mhula@gardencenterservices.org.
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that you would like to donate that will help with the many raffle drawings that we hold during the week.
The new development staff have also hit it running in regards to our annual Super Sunny Walk ‘n Roll which will be held on September 21st. This is such a fantastic event that brings us together to celebrate our wonderful agency and to make some revenue that allows us to continue to do cool things on behalf of the awe-inspiring individuals that attend our programs. We’re only a couple weeks away from the Walk and we’re still looking for event sponsors, individual walkers, and volunteers to help. Please contact me as soon as possible if you’re interested in participating in this years’ event. I can be reached at 708-8878588.
Thank you for your ongoing support of Garden Center and the persons we serve. May you have a safe, healthy, and happy autumn.