JUNE
2016
Garden Center Services
The View From My Chair A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
those supports the quality of his experiences would be greatly diminished. It is our collective responsibility to stand up and join our voices in unison to advocate for the services, programs, and rights of our most marginalized, impoverished citizens
Gerry & Michael
INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE VIEW FROM MY CHAIR Page 1 NEW FACES AT GARDEN Page 2 ADOPT-A-HOME UPDATE Page 3 FRIENDS OF GCS Page 4
I really like this picture of Michael and I on the front of this month’s Leaflet. So often I’m standing alongside one of the individuals that attend our programs, with my hand on their back or around their shoulder. Those photos don’t represent well enough the camaraderie and support I and the other staff receive from those persons we assist. I find it especially poignant that this snapshot captures Mike, a guy that at times can almost make you wince by the force of his handshake, or the volume of his voice, demonstrating his benevolence by placing his arm around my shoulder. And yet for all of his vigor, Michael is at Garden Center Services because there are areas of his daily life that he needs help with, and without
“A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.” The Buddha
Obviously the Illinois’ General Assembly adjourned its spring session Tuesday night with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and majority Democrats still deadlocked over a state budget. Illinois already has gone almost a full fiscal year without a spending plan and now there is nothing in place for the fiscal year beginning July 1st. The ongoing track record of Illinois’ programs being underfunded and unfunded is deplorable, and the negative impact on the lives of the individuals we serve and their families is untenable! I realize that the
intricacies of negotiating a budget acceptable to all parties is more difficult that I can imagine, but I do not understand how our elected officials can call it a day without doing whatever it takes to pass a spending plan that keeps Illinois citizens safe and growing in their personhood. It is imperative that we continue to contact our legislators and the governor’s office to just DO THE RIGHT THING!! Thank goodness for all the wonderful people and groups that you will read about in this month’s newsletter like the volunteers and staff of Second Chance Thrift Shoppe, the leaders and volunteers of the Adopt-a-Home Program, and the generous donors of furniture, technology, and experiences for those we serve. As always, it has been the generosity, compassion, and dedication of our families, friends, staff, and sponsors that have been the strength of this agency, and has allowed us to uphold our mission of doing whatever it takes to improve the lives of persons with developmental disabilities.