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June 2011

Special Olympics and Recreation Program:

  • Many of our athletes qualified for Track and Field State Finals will be competing the weekend of June 10-12.  The event will take place at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois.  Congratulations to all our participants and Coaches!
  • Helping Hand Wildcats T-Shirts are now available for purchase.  Available sizes include: M, L, XL, and XXL and they only cost $12!  All proceeds will go to benefit Helping Hand Special Olympics.  To purchase, please fill out the order form and make your payment at the front desk.
  • We also have a Special Olympics Softball Team.  Here is their upcoming schedule of games - hope you can make it! 

                6/28 - 7pm Game at WSSRA Blue, Longfellow Park in Oak Park. 

                7/12 - 7pm Game at WSSRA White at Fox Park in Oak Park

                7/24 - District Tournament at Clavey Park, Deerfield.  Time TBA

                8/16 - 7pm Game vs. Helping Hand Staff/Families at Countryside Park

 

                In case of inclement weather games will be cancelled.

  • Special Recreation program having their first annual banquet for participants and families on Friday, June 17th in the evening. The event will involve products and presentations from all of the special recreation programs, including health snacks provided by Health Habits group, artwork provided by Creative Crafters, improvisations from Fabulous Fine Arts, Special Olympics awards and fun participation awards.

Quality, Compliance, and Awards:

  • This past month IDOT paid us a visit to review our transportation program and service.  They were impressed with what they saw!  We are 100% compliant with IDOT.  Congratulations to Sabrina Osborne and the entire Transportation staff!
  • Public Health was at Helping Hand Center this past week completing their licensing audit. We did very well and are in compliance.  Congratulations to the staff who always do a superior job!
  • We received a call to arrange payment for a new adult client.  The person handling the arrangements said she has heard terrific things about our programs from multiple sources, and has other individuals that she believes could benefit from Helping Hand and will be calling to arrange a visit.  Good to know our quality is being talked about in such a positive way and turning into more clients for Helping Hand Center!
  • Two staff members, Natalie Maurin and Courtney Cooper attended the LADSE Employer Appreciation Breakfast this week and received three beautiful plaques in recognition of their services provided to students at Subcon, The Handstand and The Thrift Store.  Many teachers, vocational coordinators and students come up to them to extend their appreciation for all that Helping Hand Center does for not only the students but also the community. This breakfast was a great place to network and get Helping Hands name out into the community.   
  • Congratulations to the Helping Hand School for Children with Autism for their school performance on June 9th.  The students and staff worked very hard on a fun and beautiful program!

Helping Hand Center in the Community:

  • Autism Walk: Last month Helping Hand Center participated in the annual Autism Walk in Chicago.  We had a terrific team manning the booth this year.  There was someone representing all the programs so no matter what question someone had, about the school, the clinic, adult residential, adult day programming, funding, vocational opportunities, etc., someone was there who knew what he/she was talking about to field those questions.   This provided great visibility for our School and all of Helping Hand Center! 
  • Helping Hand Center "Rocks": We are participating in the LaGrange rocking chairs this summer! Check out our rocking chair in front of DeLuca's Deli and Grill at 26 S. LaGrange Road.  This is a great way to get our name out in the community! 
  • Newest Group Home: This summer we will complete construction on our newest group home in the LaGrange Highlands and eight individuals from our community will be moving in!  This has been an exciting project for staff, these individuals, their families and the community. 
  • Summer is off to a wonderful start this weekend, many of our clients were happy spectators to the LaGrange Pet Parade always a yearly favorite.  Lagrange police department assisted our large group with preferred parking and spacious shaded seating under a very large tree.  Some of our Cila's invited friends for lunch as BBQ grills were cooking all weekend long.
  • As usual multiple dinner outings were planned throughout the community.   One of our largest homes dines regularly at the Brookfield Restaurant where they always roll out the red carpet to our 20+ group.
  • Several of our clients enjoyed a movie at the Quarry Theater, several clients attended a Cubs game, lots of shopping and a casino trip. 
  • The School students and staff enjoyed a fun day at the Norm Meyer's Day for Special People in Orland Park sponsored by the Orland Park Lions Club, North American Midway Entertainment Inc. and the Village of Orland Park. This is a "by invitation only" event so we were very grateful to be included again this year.   Special thanks to Sabrina Osborne and Transportation Services for arranging transportation for the day. 

Subcon Industries:

  • Subcon has acquired a new customer, Blackhawk Molding.  The company is located in Addison and manufactures plastic bottle caps for milk bottles and five gallon water bottles. They also make other types of plastic bottle caps as well.  Our clients will be packaging three packs of their five gallon water bottle caps into plastic bags.  Our first order is for five hundred cases of packaged bottle caps. This is the second assembly operation that our clients work on for a company that is regulated by FDA.  The other company is known as Norfolk Medical, a company is located in Skokie.   
  • We have another new customer in the area, Full Line Fasteners, who has been thrilled with the work we provide and continues to give us business.

Donations and Grants:

  • Items for our new group home opening this summer are rolling in from various groups and individuals in the community.  In addition, many construction and landscaping expenses are being saved thanks to generous contractors, companies and local businesses.  We will be publishing a complete list of all contributors via this communication at the end of the summer so everyone can see the generosity of our community!
  • We received a very generous donation of books and stuffed bunnies from the LaGrange Borders as a result of their community drive to provide support and exposure for Helping Hand and individuals with disabilities.  The books will be shared between the adult and children's programs.
  • Last month we received a Grant from the State Street Foundation for our High School Transition program.  These funds will assist us as we work with high school students with developmental disabilities. 
  • We received a grant from the Community Memorial Foundation to assist with one of our group homes - this is great news for residents and their families! 
  • Every day we receive donations to our organization. Thank you to all who give to Helping Hand Center - the support is wonderful and is needed as we continue our quality programs and services!

Staff Updates:

  • Jenica Lee has completed her CFY and has obtained her C's as a licensed Speech and Language Pathologist. Congratulations Jenica - way to go!
  • Kate Speiser, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, has been selected to participate in the Diagnostic Statistics Manual-5 Clinical Field Trial.  This means that her diagnostic input will be considered in the next released version DSM-V.  Another great job! 
  • Welcome Linda Esler, our New Philanthropy Officer, to Helping Hand Center!   Linda looks forward to meeting with our families and clients!

  Events:

  • Helping Hand Center Golf Outing: The 2011 Golf Classic will be held Monday July 18th at Riverside Calf Club.  Please contact Mike Cusick to sign up and Lauren Narducci to sponsor any part of this event.
  • Sibshops in the Bolingbrook area.  When: Saturdays: June 4th, Aug 6th, Oct 1st. Time: 11am- 2pm (lunch will be served). Who: Kids ages 7-12 who have a brother or sister with special needs. Cost: $20 per Sibshop. Where: Friendship United Methodist Church 305 E. Boughton Rd. Bolingbrook, IL 60440. For more information: http://www.sibsnetwork.org/html/SIBSSibshops2011.pdf 
  • Sibs in the City – A fun gathering for adult siblings. Saturday, July 23rd, 9:00 am Seminar - Food for Thought: The Dynamic Sibling (light breakfast included). Do you find communication and dealing with conflict within the family a challenge?  You're not alone.  Linda Sandman will talk about how family relationships change over time and strategies for siblings in dealing with it all.  Cost: $10. Location:  First United Methodist Church:  77 West Washington, Chicago, IL 60602. 11:00 am Watch the Disability Pride Parade and Join the Celebration at Daley Plaza. For more information: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=jsctvmcab&oeidk=a07e3ihlqbfa0a4870a&oseq=a01vsfu5rdp0w  
  • Helping Hand Center Family Association Ice Cream Social - Saturday, July 30th, from 1:00 - 3:00 in the Wellness Center.  Please join us!  
  • Countryside Park Concert June 30th 6:30 - 9pm - Helping Hand Center will be the "guests of honor”!  The park is located at 61st Street, 1/2 block east of Brainard Avenue. 
  • Friday June 10th is a staff In-service.  Helping Hand Center is closed on this date.


Mary Beth Hepp
Helping Hand Center Executive Director