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THIS MONTH’S ISSUE
THE LEAFLET
The View From My Chair
Garden Center Family Spotlight
GCS Gears up for Reading
Friends of Garden Center
01020304
ISSUE JUL YEAR 2012
A 501(c)(3) NoNpRofIt oRgANIzAtIoN
A couple of Saturday’s ago, a memorial service was held for a wonderful woman that had been attending programs at the agency for over 24 years. Karen, who had struggled with cancer for the last several years, continued to exhibit her goodness, friendliness, and strong work ethic, though the effects of her illness and treatments were obvious. During the time that I have been lucky enough to work at Garden Center Services, Karen was not just a consumer of our services, she became a friend. There were certainly days that our interactions; chats about weekends or holidays, touching base about how we both were feeling, joking about/with her classroom staff, and the hugs, brought as much or more nurturing to me as it did to her.
I had been with Karen in the hospital shortly before she passed, and I know her leaving was a thing of mercy. What weighs on me, and this has happened every time we’ve lost someone we’ve supported, is dealing with the question, “Did we do everything possible to help this person have the life they wanted?”
There are a number of factors that make it stressful to be a provider of supports and services to persons with developmental disabilities in the state of Illinois. Obviously
the lack of adequate funding we experience year after year has made it harder and harder to provide programs and activities that exceed minimal standards. The challenge of attracting and retaining the kind of staff we want working with the individuals we assist is made more difficult by the insufficient wages we are able to pay.
Our agency has remained financially sound by increasing the number of
persons attending our programs, however, a review of the current referral packets identifies many individuals whose needs would not be effectively met by the state’s funding paradigms. But I honestly think the overriding source of my concern is tied to how well are we affecting the quality of life for the 150 or so individuals we serve.
It seems the older I get the faster time passes. I so appreciate all of you that are reading this newsletter, and the many ways that you provide the backing and encouragement that strengthens our efforts to provide the best services possible. I ask that you take up a sense of urgency about persons with developmental disabilities having the necessary resources to craft the lives they deserve.
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.
a MESSagE frOM OUr ExEcUTIvE dIrEcTOr
A 501(c)(3) NoNpRofIt oRgANIzAtIoN
The View From My Chair
“ Did we do everything
possible to help this person
have the life they wanted?”
Check out Gerry's Blog at www.GardenCenterServices.org
Brian is Garden Center’s Director of Maintenance and Transportation. He joined the Garden Center family in March of last year. Brian is responsible for overseeing the maintenance of GCS’s 12 program/residential sites and our ever-growing vehicle fleet. Despite the demanding schedule of his position, Brian is always quick with a smile and a laugh. He says his favorite thing about Garden Center is definitely the people. “The consumers really make this place. They make it a lot of fun to be here.”
Before coming to Garden Center, Brian was a volunteer fireman and worked in the building trades for over 10 years. Brian grew up in Alsip and now lives in Chicago Ridge with his wife, Emily, their three-year-old daughter and their seven-year-old twin son and daughter. BRIAN
FRAIDER
Garden Center Family SpotlightKristin came to Garden Center Services almost five years ago. She lived in Garden Center’s Burbank Manor Apartments (BMA) until her recent move to the newly opened Oak Lawn home. Kristin is very happy with the move because the open, one-level layout of the Oak Lawn home makes it much easier for her to get around. Kristin moved from BMA with one of her good friends, Karen, as well as one of her favorite support staffs, Nicole, which helped to make her feel at home right away.
Kristin loves hanging out at her new home with her housemates, watching her favorite show Jeopardy, and, her friends say, she is always ready for a party. This past week, Kristin took a vacation to attend summer camp. She has been attending the camp each summer for several years now and enjoys going back every year to see the many friends she has made there. KRISTIN
KIMBALL
It was with tremendous sadness that we learned about the death of Karen Marcinkiewicz. She had been battling cancer for some time but until recently it seemed as if she was winning the fight. We will long remember Karen and the wonderful attributes she brought to the Day Program. No matter the stage of her battle, Karen always had a smile on her face, never letting on what physical struggles she might be enduring. To the contrary, she always showed the warmest caring and concern for those around her. There were two other qualities about Karen that we will always remember - her extraordinary story telling ability and her astonishing aptitude at bowling!
A hole has been left in our hearts, one that we will try to fill by remembering all the wonderful things that Karen was. Our heartfelt condolences to the family.
Garden Center Remembers...
Karen Marcinkiewicz
This past fall, Garden Center received a grant from RR Donnelley, a Chicago-based global provider of integrated communications, to start our literacy project. The project is now well underway and we wanted to share some of the highlights with you.
Thirty GCS consumers received a reading evaluation using READ, an informal reading inventory for low-literacy adults. Twenty-eight of those individuals, 21 at the Main Building and seven at our Kedzie building, are actively participating in the literacy program.
Funding from the RR Donnelley grant allowed the purchase of computers, literacy software and curriculum for the project. Readers at both locations have been divided into groups by reading level and are meeting with our literacy instructor, volunteer Jo Liebermann, once a week. The participants also work on individualized learning plans throughout the week with their team leaders’ support.
We are working to create reading lounges at our day sites. If you have books or furniture that we could use for that purpose, please contact Sheila Ryan-Henry at [email protected] or 773-941-4151 Ext. 201.
Garden Center Gears up for Reading
SAVE THE DATE!
GCS 56th Annual Fashion ShowFriday, November 4thDoubletree Hotel5000 W . 127th St.Alsip, IL
Literacy Program participants at GCS Kedzie building attend a meeting.
Knights of Columbus St. Louis de Montfort Council # 14553 donated $500 toward the
relocation to our new Kedzie building
BULLETIN BOARD
Second Chance Thrift Shoppe turned 4 years old on July 1!
They have had another great year and continue to do fantastic
things for Garden Center.
Thank You Second Chance Staff and Volunteers!!!
gardEN cENTEr’S
NEEdS LIST
Desktop or laptop Computers Sofa/Chairs for our reading areaUmbrellasBar-type stoolsFree-standing shelf unitsPrinterPhoneOffice deskMicrowaveLarge coffee makerBooksElectronic keyboards (music)Event ticketsCraft suppliesFrames for artworkBlank canvasesX-Box games
If you have an item to donate, please email Anne McFerron at [email protected]
GCS has earned over $240 from our supporters’ online shopping!
To sign up and help GCS every
time you shop, go to www.igive.com/
GardenCenter today!
WHErE WE grOW dIgNITy aNd INdEpENdENcE
phone 708.636.0054
email [email protected]
web www.gardencenterservices.org
BOard Of dIrEcTOrS
president daniel Wenzler
1st vice president Scott Hardek
2nd vice president doug combs
Treasurer r. pat Ballis
Secretary annmarie caulfield
Members: John J. Kunkes
Linda Stearns
Linda Sherwood
Sharon duncan
Jenny Wojcik
Knights of Columbus Fundraiser Monday, July 16thYB Hungry Restaurant 6840 West 95th StreetOak Lawn, IL
ANNUAL FASHION SHOWFriday, November 4th Doubletree in Alsip
Don’t Forget!
$1,000- $3,000• William Ramsden• UNITED WAY OF METRO
CHICAGO• TRUIST UNITED WAY
$500- $999• Joan Strainis• Lila Helme
MEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME
• Ronald Nowobielski• BURBANK SERTOMA
CLUB
$100- $499• BURBANK WOMEN’S
CIVIC CLUB• William Duncan
MEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN
• Dorothy Ballis• PRYME TYMERS/TRINITY
EV COVENANT CHURCH• Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Strainis• Deborah & Dennis Conway• Clorox Co Foundation
Employe Giving Camp• Sherry L. VanKuren• Mr. & Mrs. Shawn Kane
MEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME
• Steven Zitowsky• Gary Duncan
MEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN
• LEE coUNtYMEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN
• Mr. & Mrs. Brian Clark
MEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN
• Brian & Elizabeth Wojak• Mr. & Mrs. Randy Duncan
MEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN
Up to $99• Beverly Peters
DONATION FOR JANET WINTERS BIRTHDAY
• Patrick J. Malloy• Ann McGrath-Harty• Mary Cullen
Memorial for Lorey O’Grady
• Myrtis WinterMEMORIAL FOR PEARL REID
• Mr. & Mrs. BufordMEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN
• Sheila Ryan-Henry MEMORIAL FOR CATHERINE KRICKL
• Richard RiveraMEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN
• Mr. & Mrs. Charles GreenMEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME
• Mr. & Mrs. Dimitri HotekoMEMORIAL FOR DEAN HOTEKO
• Mr. & Mrs. John WrightMEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN
• Mr.& Mrs. Calvin SmithMEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME
• Mr. & Mrs. Mark SarichMEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN
• iGIVE ONLINE SHOPPERS• James Pawluczyk• Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Galeher• Dolores Keating
MEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME
• Bridget McGrathMemorial for Anna Pfieffer
• Mr. & Mrs. Jerre SantschiMEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME
• Mr. & Mrs. John HaughMEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME
• Mr. & Mrs. William ShaughnessyMEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN
• Connie SavianoMEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME
• Mr. & Mrs. Douglas CombsMEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME
• Mr. & Mrs. Berniece ButtingerMEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME
• Linda StearnsMEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME
• Mary DalrympleMEMORIAL FOR PEARL REID
• Mr. & Mrs. Peter LesieckiMEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME
• Margaret MetzMEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME
• Diane PetersonMEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME
• Mr. & Mrs. Gilbert GizowskiMEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN
• Mr. & Mrs. Anthony PerniceMEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN
• Diane Doody• Josephine Lapp
Memorial for Jackie Menzel
FRIENDS OF GARDEN CENTER February 2012 - APRIL 2012
Contact Michele Hula to learn about GCS Planned Giving Opportunities
[email protected](773) 941-4151 Ext. 212
gcS
Give GCS the Gift of Long-Term Financial Strength
SECOND CHANCE THRIFT SHOPPE
July 29th 12pm-4pm
HALF OFF EVERYTHING
S A L E
See Gerry’s interview on the Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce Cable TV show,airing every Tuesday in July at 6:30pm on Comcast Community Channel 19.
Stay tuned for a story on Garden Gallery & Studio to air on ABC7 Sunday Morning News with Karen Meyer this August.
Prepare Building for Occupancy
GOAL 22,500
$21,770We’re
almost there!
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