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Garden Center Services
HE LEAFLET
The View From My Chair A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
by the referral agencies that require the person to take a number of assessments. The purpose of these assessments is to pinpoint those deficits in cognitive, physical, and lifeskill development that will
Nicole & Gerry
INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE VIEW FROM MY CHAIR Page 1 GARDEN CENTER FAMILY Page 2 GCS WALKS, ROLLS & RUNS Page 3 AROUND GCS Page 4
Looking forward to this coming weekend and all the 4th of July celebrations leads me to think about the term “independence” and the struggles we’ve all gone through, as individuals and as a country, to become the people we want to be, spending our precious lives doing what we want to do. I would say the overarching goal we have as an agency that provides services and supports to adults with intellectual and physical disabilities is getting to know each person well enough so that we can accurately identify what their hopes and aspirations are and then doing whatever we can to assist them in realizing this potential. Before individuals are “awarded” state funding so that they can attend our programs, they must be screened
“It is only by spending quality time with an individual, deeply listening to them, observing them, that one comes to grasp their aptitude and ambitions. ”
verify they meet the criteria of having a developmental disability. It seems to be such a “what’s broken” way of looking at human beings, and does not give proper emphasis to the unique presence and contribution that each person possesses. It is only by spending quality time with an individual, deeply listening to them, observing them, that one comes to grasp their aptitude and ambitions. In both our day and residential programs we are continually working to improve the experiences and exposure our consumers receive driven by the approach described above.
We so appreciate the input provided by the families about their loved ones, and also the insights contributed by our caring staff that spends so much of their day engaged with our consumers. As an agency, as we become more aware and sensitive to the hopes and possibilities that are within each person we support, we must strive to make those changes necessary that will give them better access to full lives of participation. As much as I wanted to mention independence in this article, I also wanted to stress the need and benefit of “interdependence”. It’s truly only through the acceptance and support of one another that we can really become our best selves. I often think that one of the greatest gifts bestowed on us by the persons we support at Garden Center Services is their innate understanding of this principle, and the enviable way they open themselves to receiving and providing kindness. Enjoy the newsletter, and have a great summer.
GARDEN CENTER FAMILY SECOND CHANCE THRIFT SHOPPE TURNS SIX! Second Chance Thrift Shoppe was opened on July 1st of 2008 by Bonnie and Ron Nalepa. Bonnie & Ron’s son, Billy, lives at Garden Center’s Westmont home. Proceeds of Second Chance sales go toward Garden Center’s residential and vocational services. The income Second Chance brings in is an enormous support to Garden Center and eases some of the financial strain we experience as a result of consistently low funding rates and the State’s habitually late payments for services. In addition to giving their profits to Garden Center, Second Chance also directly helps those we serve by donating needed items to our homes and day programs as well as opening their doors to those we serve to pick up clothing and other things at no charge.
Seco nd Ch ance is six !
Second Chance’s generosity doesn’t stop there. The shoppe supports local veterans’ groups including Manteno Veteran’s Home and the Oak Lawn Veteran’s Group through donations of clothing and household goods. Second Chance is also a supporter of Hope and Friendship Ministries, a nonprofit that helps area residents in need. Second Chance issues vouchers to the program who passes them out to those who need them such as one Lemont area family whose house recently burned down. The vouchers enable each family member to shop for clothing, toys and household items at no charge to replace those they lost. In May 2013, after the devastating tornado that ripped through Moore Oklahoma, volunteers from the shoppe took two trips to the battered state in a rental truck full of clothing, toys and other supplies to donate toward the relief effort.
SECOND CHANCE THRIFT SHOPPE Needs Your Donations! Donations accepted Monday thru Saturday 10:00am-3:30pm (until 6:30pm on Thursdays)
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Your donations of new and gently used toys, books, clothing, jewelry, collectables and more make it possible for Second Chance to positively impact Garden Center Services, those we serve, and so many more in our communities. Why not send your birthday wishes to Second Chance through a donation of items that will without a doubt make a difference to many, many people.
Happy Birthday Second Chance!
YO U R
FAC E B O O K
GCS posted a fun, short video about our campaign to raise funds for transportation to our Facebook page. Please visit our page and share the video with your connections on the social media platforms you use to help GCS get the word out! Did you know it costs Garden Center $493 to transport those we serve to their programs and home again each day?
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With your help we can make contacts with people we would have never met without you. Please help us reach our goal of 1500 views!
Do good when you shop... COFFEE Co.
. Tastes Good. Does Good. Feels Good
F O R
G O O D !
how you can help GCS
GCS WALKS, ROLLS & RUNS FOR FUNDS Garden Center held our annual Walk ‘n Roll-a-Thon and 5k on June 7th. Over 400 people attended the event this year making it our biggest yet! One hundred and fourteen people ran in the 5k - more than double over last year.
Garden Center is in need of donations of the following items •
porch swing
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basketball hoop
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storage shelving
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rubbermaid -type storage
Team Muffin Cheers on the walkers
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digital camera
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wall-mountable TV for exercise room
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kitchen table & chairs
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We are, of course, incredibly grateful to Bettenhausen Fiat of Tinley Park who generously donated the adorable yellow Fiat 500 Convertible for our raffle. Please visit our website for a list of all our sponsors for the event and be sure to show your appreciation by patronizing a GCS supporting business when you shop!
Wii game station
THANK YOU !
! y’re off And the
Mark your calendar...
Save the Date!
GCS’s 58th Annual Fashion Show & Luncheon GCS’s 58th Annual Fashion Show & Luncheon will be held Sunday, November 2nd at the DoubleTree Hotel in Alsip.
A beautiful day greeted the participants who walked/ ran the race route that winded through the tree-lined streets of Burbank ending at Newcastle Park. We would like to thank all of the volunteers, sponsors and supporters who made this event such a huge success! We would like to offer a special thank you to the Burbank Park District who helped us warm up with an awesome Zumba class and the Knights of Columbus #14553 for sharing their amazing grilling skills at the cookout.
June 2014
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Fiat raffle winner His daughter Tammwas Sam Ingraffia . y accepted the prize
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Bunny Burrow Fundraiser Oak Lawn Community Church 4:30pm to 9pm
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August 2014
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1 First Friday at Garden Gallery 7pm to 9pm
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Growing dignity
FRIENDS OF GARDEN CENTER March - May 2014
and independence
$1,000 - $5,000 •
$500 - $999
8333 S. Austin Ave. Burbank, IL 60459
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10444 S. Kedzie Chicago, IL 60655 phone 773-941-4151 email info@gardencenterservices.org web www.GardenCenterServices.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS President
Daniel Wenzler
1st Vice President
Jenny Wojcik
2nd Vice President
Doug Combs
Treasurer
George Sterba
Secretary
Sharon Duncan
Members:
Annmarie Caulfield Mary Beth Herr John J. Kunkes
Muffin & M ary take Formal to a dancing break at th pose for th e e camera GCS
e the danc p before u d ie s s ts gu Jamee ge
Sean O’Shea Linda Sherwood
OUR MISSION Garden Center Services is committed to supporting and empowering persons with developmental disabilities through innovative and person-centered services. Our commitment to the excellence of our programs is surpassed only by our devotion to the people we serve and the communities in which they live.
SECOND CHANCE SHOPPERS
Thank you Park for d Paul Mitchell Sc h oing makeovers forool of Tinley the Formal
BUNNY BURROW FUNDRAISER The Knights of Columbus #14553 & Women’s Auxiliary are holding a Spaghetti Dinner to help a GCS family with growing medical bills Advance Tickets $10/ At the door $12 For tickets call 708-599-3114 or visit www.kofc14553.org Oak Lawn Community Church FRIDAY, JULY 11th 4:30pm to 9:00pm
EARN $$$ for Yourself and Garden Center at the same time!!! In July, iGive will donate an extra $5 to GCS for every person who downloads the iGive button. They are also giving away cash prizes to the top 3 users who sign up the most friends. There will be one $1,000 prize and two $500 prizes.
Visit iGive.com and choose Garden Center as your charity to get started.
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Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Strainis KARNEZIS BROTHERS PROPERTIES EDISON INTERNATIONAL
$100 - $499 • • • • • • • • •
TINLEY PARK JAYCEES GCS COMMUNITY CRUSADERS WEAVERS GUILD OF THE N. SHORE Dorothy Ballis TINLEY PARK BUNNY HOP John Kunkes Deborah Conway CLOROX COMPANY FOUNDATION Angela Baker
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iGIVE SHOPPERS EXELON CORPORATION KRAFT FOODS FOUNDATION Carla Smith
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Jamie Vardalos Linda Sherwood
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Mr. & Mrs. Robert Willoughby Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Beemsterboer Michael O’Grady Richard Skubis
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Robert Dombrowski
Memorial for John Pastor from Nationwide’s Joy Clingan Team
Memorial for John Pastor
memorial for Charles Sherwood
Memorial for John Pastor
In Honor of Danny Beemsterboer
Up to $99 • • •
Ann McGrath-Harty Daniel Heenan Mr. & Mrs. Dimitri Hoteko
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CATHOLIC HOLY FAMILY SOCIETY Claude Wiatrak Brian & Elizabeth Wojak ANONYMOUS DONATION Chris Blade
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Myrtis Winter
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Sandra E. Mitchell Thomas Driscoll
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Andrew Kapala Mr. David & Dr. Sharon Duncan Beverly Peters
Memorial for Mark Star, Lillian Kucia, Gerry Linnot
Memorial for John Pastor from Post-Bulletin MEMORIAL ROBERT BROWN
In Honor of Dan Beemsterboer
In Honor of Mrs. Winter
THANK YOU!