MAR/APR
2017
Garden Center Services
The View From My Chair A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Carla & Gerry
INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE VIEW FROM MY CHAIR Page 1 AWARENESS MONTH Page 2 SECOND CHANCE THRIFT Page 3 AROUND GCS Page 4
Inside this edition of the Leaflet you will find information about March being designated as National Disability Awareness Month, and some great ways you can help our agency continue to improve the lives of the wonderful individuals that we are honored to support. I would imagine that most of you reading this newsletter have a direct connection with an individual that is affected by an intellectual and/or developmental disability, or at least this agency, and that you are already extremely mindful of the struggles and successes experienced by this group through the years. In
2016 Garden Center Services celebrated its’ 60th anniversary, and I have now been advocating for and working alongside
persons with disabilities for over 45 years. Though we have observed many positive changes related to the services for our individuals, from the institutionalized, segregated custodial care of the 50s, to the more individualized, community integrated programs that are offered now, I believe we still fall quite short of adequately assisting persons to have full lives of meaning, connection, and contribution.
“A person is only as disabled as their environment and the beliefs of the people around them.” - Bala Pillai DPT, PCS
Certainly part of the challenge has been educating myself, families, and our staff on new ways to think about what is possible for the individuals that attend our programs. Are we speaking with and listening to what persons need and want in an open, respectful way that is not clouded by our own assumptions and preconceptions? Can people experience the “dignity of risk” in a safe, caring environment that
allows them to attempt and achieve new outcomes which strengthens their self-esteem and provides the confidence to keep moving forward? There is no doubt that one of the hurdles we struggle with is the inadequacy of the funding we receive here in the state of Illinois. Going nine years with no real cost of doing business increase can make it very difficult to provide the comprehensive, person-centered supports that our individuals require and deserve, or to compensate our dedicated employees at an appropriate living wage. But all this means is that we have to be progressively more creative and valiant in creating our own streams of revenue, volunteer engagement, community experiences & employment, and all around goodness from the remarkable group of families and friends which includes you, the reader. Please enjoy this edition of the Leaflet, and choose a couple of the ways listed inside to personally contribute to the National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Peace & Joy,
GARDEN CENTER FAMILY MARCH IS DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH
FUN & EASY WAYS YOU CAN GET INVOLVED!
March is National Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. It is a time to commemorate the progress our country has made toward recognizing the many gifts people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have to offer. It is also a time to encourage our communities to work toward giving people more opportunities to share those gifts. It may seem like a daunting task, but there are many small ways you can get involved in helping those we serve make their mark on the world. Here are 10 easy and fun ways you can get involved and make a huge impact for Amy, Don and the rest of the GCS gang this month: 1. Follow GCS on Facebook and forward our posts to your friends and family 2. Take some time for yourself and shop at Second Chance Thrift Shoppe (be sure to say thank you to the army of volunteers that keep it running!) 3. Invite GCS to speak at your work, church or civic group 4. Contact your legislator and ask them to support funding for citizens with disabilities in your community (okay... this one may not be a lot of fun, but it is easy and impactful!) 5. Invite your friends and family to throw a party at a GCS home or work site 6. Teach a craft at one of our day programs 7. Invite your work pals to do a volunteer project for GCS 8. Donate some time and goods to Second Chance Thrift Shoppe 9. Shop at and thank local businesses that employ people from GCS’s Employment Program (list on the back of this newsletter) 10. Share information about GCS’s Employment Program with your employer (or just make an introduction and we’ll take it from there!)
Amy
Don
Have questions? Contact Anne at amcferron@GardenCenterServices.org.
growARTS’ ARTS FOR INDEPENDENCE POP-UP EVENT Thank you to everyone who attended our first pop-up art sale on February 10th! The event featured amazing works by Garden Center’s talented artists as well as several stunning pieces created by celebrated Chicago artist, Alan Salabert. A SPECIAL THANK YOU to: • Howard Kuse, Acanthus Development, for donating the amazing space! • Alan Salabert, www.AlanSalabert.com, for donating a large percentage of the proceeds of his art sales at the event • Annabelle Winters’ LuLaRoe, LularoeAnnabelleWinters, for donating a percentage of all clothing sales at the event e ready ing sure we ar Je’Shona makyone’s favorites! with ever
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS for these upcoming growARTS pop-up sales! • •
March 10th 6pm to 9pm April 7th 6pm to 9pm
1555 W. Diversey in Lincoln Park
Enjoy refreshments and meet great people while you shop our artwork and your favorite LuLaRoe clothes!!!
Second Chance Thrift Shoppe NEEDS YOU! The agency’s incredible Second Chance Thrift Shoppe located in Lemont continues to generate much needed revenue for our agency! Additionally, the persons that we support are able to supplement their personal clothing and household item needs through donations made to the shop. This couldn’t happen without SAVE A TREE ...AND GCS a dedicated, hard-working MONEY THE LEAFLET core of volunteers, but we need more people willing to When you sign give of their time. The miniup to receive THE LEAFLET online mum commitment that we are looking for is only three hours a week! We need your help to cut postage costs! If you would like to continue to receive the GCS newsletter, Please call the store manplease contact Sandi at scoleman@ ager, Fran Otruba, at (630) gardencenterservices.org to receive 243-1279 and let her know your next issue via eMail. when you can help. JULY
2014
Garden Center Services
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
ter! elp Garden Cen Have fun & H
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
SECOND CHANCE THRIFT SHOPPE 44 Stephen Street Lemont 630-243-1279
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.
Follow us on
Newcastle Park Burbank, IL SATURDAY, JUNE 3RD 2017 at 8:30AM
Mark your calendar...
Saturday, April 22nd 10:30am to noon State Street Program 8333 S. Austin Ave. in Burbank
Community Bulletin Board
GCS Day Programs CLOSED Memorial Day MAY 29th
AN EASY WAY TO HELP If you have tickets to a show or event you are unable to use or if you would like to purchase tickets or donate money toward their purchase, please contact Cindy Haworth and help us make wonderful memories for those we serve. Cindy Haworth 773-941-4151 Ext. 213 chaworth@gardencenterservices.org
ent this rec de e k li s g a Outin m trip are m museu by donations of . possible and gift cards s t ticke
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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.
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 President
Dr. Jenny Wojcik
1st Vice President
Annmarie Caulfield
2nd Vice President
Paul Krutulis
Treasurer
George Sterba
Secretary
Florence Head
Members:
Caroline Connors
reen at and Maru y m im e J d , a n a Theres Botanic G o g Kathy, h a ic h C t e
Donna & Tim at the Sw eetheart Dance
Joan Strainis Representative Fran Hurley Dave Rauen Tom Beemsterboer
OUR MISSION Garden Center Services is committed to supporting and empowering persons with developmental disabilities through innovative and personcentered 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.
mel Senior, Eagle Scout & Mount Carral boxes of Corbin Webb, donated seve s art supplies and persona!l care item THANK YOU
Marie showing off some valentine art
dals at nisher me fi t u o g andin n Joshua h the F3 Maratho
DeJuan, Sue & Kris voluntee Operation ta Blessing ring at
A Special Thank You to our
Employment Program Partners