MARCH
2016
Garden Center Services
The View From My Chair A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Demarcus & Gerry
INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE VIEW FROM MY CHAIR Page 1 JOINING THE WORKFORCE Page 2 ADOPT A HOME Page 3 AROUND GCS Page 4
I’m writing this Leaflet article on March 1st, which for a long time has been one of my favorite days of the year! For me it’s right up there with other major holidays like Christmas, Easter, and the Fourth of July. There’s such relief at having the cold, wintry months of December, January, and February behind us and sensing the wonderful hope that we’ll be surprised by a clump of purples crocuses, smiled upon by a perfectly opened daffodil, or warmed by an unseasonably balmy 50° day! But though I’m hopeful about seeing some progressive signs of Spring in the coming weeks, there’s certainly been no new developments regarding the budget standoff in the legislature, or the lack of a unified solution to caring for our state’s most vulnerable citizens.
I have no desire to vent over these dispiriting conditions yet again, but would rather mention with delight the pieces in this month’s Leaflet that discuss the myriad ways our agency, our dedicated staff, our awesome families & friends, and generous volunteers continually strive to improve the quality of life for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. There’s a short article on our Adopt-A-Home initiative where supporters are leading the effort to improve the living and working environments of the persons we are committed to serve. Read Jelani’s story and how our Community Employment Program and neighborhood businesses are collaborating to offer real jobs to our participants. We mention the kind bequest of $8,000 that helps supplement the inadequate funding of our day and residential programs; the establishment of a matching grant by the Hall family, that will run through the month of April and honor our friend Bob who we miss dearly.
There are also brief references to the upcoming super sale at the Second Chance Thrift Shoppe and the next Super Sunny 5K & Walk n Rolla-Thon coming this June. I am so grateful for these tangible examples that demonstrate one of the fundamental values of this agency; Garden Center Services has always been and continues to be the steadfast organization it is due to the combined efforts of its’ families, friends, staff, and the individuals we support! We will always fight for adequate funding from the state of Illinois, but more and more I realize that our agency is truly a grass roots, social action network of caring, committed paid and unpaid individuals that are devoted to those persons needing our assistance because of their intellectual or developmental disability. Let’s all be on the lookout for signs of new growth.