Mosaic Matters
a publication of Mosaic in Ellsworth | 124 W. 3rd | Ellsworth, KS 67439-0169
December 2013
We are blessed by our supporters! Two of our many supporters recently presented Mosaic in Ellsworth with donation checks to help continue to provide a life of possibilities for those we serve. We would like to thank them and share with you the inspiring stories of their support.
Knights of Columbus
Emanuel Lutheran ChurchHutchinson, Kansas
On Friday, November 8, Roger Foran and Mosaic’s staff member Charlie Strouse, both representatives of the Knights of Columbus Council 3400, presented Mosaic Executive Director Julie Kramp with a check. Donations given from their local Campaign for People with Intellectual Disabilities made up the contribution funds.
On Sunday, November 10, several of the people we serve and Mosaic staff traveled to Hutchinson for worship services at the Emanuel Lutheran Church. On behalf of the entire congregation, Pastor Tim Carey kindly presented Mosaic in
Mosaic Executive Director Julie Kramp receives a donation presented by Pastor Tim Carey. From left: Charlie Strouse, Julie Kramp and Roger Foran.
Ellsworth with a check for more than $700 to further our mission. It was a wonderful morning in which we were able to learn about and reflect on the long and rich history between the Church and Mosaic in Ellsworth. In addition to the financial gifts, we have also benefited from their mission work. Last year the church organized a work day and several members of the congregation came and worked on several projects at two of our group homes. Everyone enjoyed an uplifting service and a wonderful visit with the congregation that day. Following the service, they were served spaghetti for lunch, with some absolutely divine sides and desserts. We also received 60 pounds of potatoes for meals in our group homes. We can’t express enough how honored and grateful we are for Emanuel Lutheran Church’s continued support, and look forward to the mission visit this summer.
This is one of the most popular and successful programs conducted by Knights of Columbus for the benefit of people with intellectual disabilities. The fundraiser collects donations in and around our local community, and in appreciation, the donor is offered a Tootsie Roll. The high visibility of this program has led to the Campaign for People with Intellectual Disabilities commonly being referred to as the “Tootsie Roll Drive.” Of the funds raised by the 2013 Tootsie Roll Drive, 80 percent was given to Mosaic in Ellsworth and the remaining 20 percent to the Special Olympics basketball tournament. This year Mosaic received more than $1,000 from the campaign. Thank you Knights of Columbus for all of your hard work on our behalf. Your efforts and donation are a wonderful gift!
Ellsworth, KS
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FROM THE E XECUTIVE DIREC TOR
Meet Brittany Ardis!
by Julie Kramp
A Special Thanks to our Direct Support Associates
Here are some fast facts about Brittany. n Hobbies:
Brittany enjoys event planning, drawing, designing greeting cards and invitations, reading cookbooks and finding new recipes and cooking.
Greetings, I would like to focus some attention on the staff who provide direct care for the people we serve at Mosaic, our Direct Support Associates, or DSAs. These folks are the ones who are caring for the people in service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year round. It takes a significant commitment to succeed as a Direct Support Associate. There is constant training, updates and change. DSAs deal with a significant amount of paperwork and are also required to complete daily computer-based documentation. And then, there’s the ‘people’ side of things. DSAs are the people that those we serve count on to listen and support them in their daily lives. They assist the people we serve with cooking, cleaning, reading, teaching, laughing, playing and with their jobs. They provide a shoulder to lean on, a smile, and a word of encouragement when things get tough. These are the caring people who spend time away from their own families to be with our Mosaic family, and believe me, they don’t do it for the money. They do it because they’re called to serve, they’re committed and they see the difference they make each and every day. So, I would like to take this opportunity to say Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and a huge thanks to all of our Direct Support Associates and their families. And from all of us at Mosaic in Ellsworth – Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours! Sincerely, Julie Kramp Executive Director
Mosaic Matters
n Favorite color: Baby blue n Favorite food: Cheesy broccoli n Birthday: June 20
Please call Mosaic in Ellsworth’s Community Relations Manager, Tracie Bolton, at 785.472.4081 to schedule a time to tour our facility and meet Brittany, other people in service and staff members today.
Mosaic says “Happy Birthday!” to the following folks: Bradley Pickering.......................................December 7 Tanner Bolton............................................December 9 Bonnie Kralik............................................December 11 Terri Gruver..............................................December 14 Micheal Martinez....................................December 16 Matthew Brickei......................................December 20 Darla Saltzman........................................December 25 Misty Zurava............................................December 26
Relationships Mosaic is an affiliated social ministry organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a member of Lutheran Services in America.
published by Mosaic in Ellsworth
124 W. 3rd | Ellsworth, KS 67439-0169 P 785.472.4081 | F 785.472.3851 | www.mosaicinellsworth.org Executive Director Editor
Non-discrimination Mosaic will not discriminate in matters of employment or service delivery on the basis of race, creed, age, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status or veteran status.
julie.kramp@mosaicinfo.org tracie.bolton@mosaicinfo.org
Mission Embracing God’s call to serve in the world, Mosaic advocates for people with intellectual disabilities and provides opportunities for them to enjoy a full life.
To be added or removed from the mailing list for Mosaic Matters, or to receive information via email, please contact Mosaic at the address given.
Integrity at Mosaic If you have a concern, call our national Confidential Reporting Hotline at 800.443.4899, or email integrity@mosaicinfo.org. Ellsworth, KS
Brittany Ardis
©2013 Mosaic. All rights reserved. Mosaic is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
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Aktion Club activities The members of the Aktion Club in Ellsworth have been very busy! With donated pumpkins from First Bank Kansas and art direction from Agnes Kepka, we delivered pumpkins the week before Halloween to many places throughout our community. Thanks to all who helped in this effort. They also assisted the local Kiwanis Club with the collection of funds for the Eliminate Project and UNICEF. This is a project where the two organizations have joined forces to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus. Thanks to the Ellsworth area businesses who allowed us to place our collection boxes at their establishments. The Hospital Auxiliary Annual Jingle Bell Shop & Sell event on Saturday, November 2, was an excellent opportunity for an Aktion Club fundraiser. This year iced coffee, Jumpy Monkey coffee, Mosaic’s mats and handmade crafts were sold to raise funds to pay membership dues. In addition to working the Aktion Club booth, members enjoyed singing Christmas carols, shopping and enjoying the food available at the other vendor booths. We are please to have raised enough money to cover the dues for all of our Aktion Club Members.
Ande Rogers, Curt Glasier of First Bank Kansas, and Bella Dietrich.
Ande Rogers and Bella Dietrich set out UNICEF collection boxes.
Ryan Hoobler keeps the noon shift cool with the Polar Bear in the booth next door.
Tanner Bolton, Tracy Kimsey, Kiwanis Member Carolyn Graves and Ande Rogers work the morning shift at the Craft Fair.
Community Relations Manager Tracie Bolton, Larry Walsten, Sue Buchanan and Randall Hiechel finish out the afternoon shift.
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Hidden Treasures, a true gem for the family of Diamond
of Anita, Vicki and everyone at Mosaic. To top it all off, they had also put together clothing items for Edee as well. Mosaic’s Hidden Treasures staff felt an overwhelming sense of purpose for the work they were doing that provided help for the Aguilar family. Ellsworth is blessed with many organizations and members of the community that are willing to help others. We hope by telling this story, others realize what a wonderful resource Hidden Treasures is. If you know of a family in need, Hidden Treasures can help you as well. While our normal hours of operation are Thursday and Friday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., for immediate assistance of a family in need, we encourage you to call Mosaic in Ellsworth at 785.472.4081. You can learn more about Diamond, her story, her family, and their fight against cancer through their Prayer Warrior Group on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ DiamondsAngels.
Last October, Mosaic’s Hidden Treasures proved to be a true gem for one California family whose daughter has been battling brain cancer at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. During a family visit to relatives in Claflin, Diamond, now 21 months old, Diamond Blevins-Aguilar fell very ill and began to lose her balance. The family was told she had ear infections and later, after no progress or recovery, learned she had brain cancer. After multiple trips to hospitals including Wichita and Salina, she was moved to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City and remains there now fighting her battle against cancer. Her mother and father, Jesus and Edee Aguilar, and four of their seven other children, ranging from 6 months old to 15 years, are now living at the Ronald McDonald House in Kansas City, where they can be together as a family during this time. While Diamond was beginning her struggle with cancer, Mosaic staff member Vicki Hinds and her family were struggling with her nephew Sammy losing his fight against the disease. It was during these hospital and hospice stays that the two families crossed paths and a connection was formed. Vicki’s sister, Anita, has stayed in close communications with Diamond’s mother, Edee, since last summer, praying for and Edee Blevins-Aguilar and Jesse Aguilar with Diamond and their assisting the family in any way children Damian Aguilar, Izabella she could. When Anita learned Blevins-Aguilar, Dominik Aguilar the children had started school and Jasmine Blevins in Kansas City. and did not have the necessary clothes to stay warm, she contacted Vicki to see if Mosaic’s Hidden Treasures could help. The people in service at Mosaic that work at Hidden Treasures pulled together and were able to provide all four children with the appropriate clothing to wear to school, and keep them warm in the colder climate. Each child also received outerwear, including coats and shoes. Vicki and her family, taking advantage of the $3 bag sale the store has every Friday and Saturday, were able to make all this happen with a donation of only $40. This was not something that Edee had requested, and she was surprised and touched by the kindness Ellsworth, KS
Discover the Possibilities at Mosaic in Ellsworth
Discover the Possibilities are one-hour events where we share Mosaic’s mission, vision and passion for the people we serve. Those who attend will be given a tour of Mosaic’s services and work through the stories told by those who know it well – the people we serve, their families and our staff members.
Upcoming Meeting Dates
All events are held at the Mosaic office at 124 W. 3rd in Ellsworth.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014 | 5:30 p.m.
Beginning in 2014, Discover the Possibilities will be regularly scheduled on the third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. Due to limited space, please contact Community Relations Manager Tracie Bolton at 785.472.4081 x110 or tracie.bolton@ mosaicinfo.org to reserve your spot.
Join Mosaic’s Online Social Network www.facebook.com/mosaicinellsworthks www.twitter.com/mosaicpossible www.youtube.com/mosaicpossible
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