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December,
2008
Dear
Friends and Family:
Village Community Services is extremely grateful for the many wonderful
family members and friends who generously give their support each year.
Because of you, Village Community Services is able to provide excellent
service in realizing our mission to
support adults having disabilities and other life challenges in
achieving personal potential at home, work, and in community life.
Below are a few examples of how your generosity this holiday season will
enrich the lives of people who have disabilities
Village Music and Arts
 In
2008, the generosity of our dedicated volunteers and donors resulted in
the expansion of the Village Music and Arts program to include more than
90 regular participants. This number includes several volunteers
and community members who join in our monthly Evening with the Arts and
weekly Friday Music jam sessions. It has been an especially exciting
year for Voices of the Village. The twenty-one member performance
ensemble has inspired audiences at venues throughout Washington State.
In addition to having a great time, Voices of the Village members show
the world the strengths, abilities, and joy people with disabilities
bring to community life. For instance, Voices of the Village
performed for 300+ business and community leaders at the Greater Everett
Community Foundation’s Possibilities Breakfast. They traveled to
Richland and then to Seattle to perform at each city’s National Down
Syndrome Buddy Walk, bringing joy to more than 1,700 children, adults,
friends, and family members. Voices of the Village played at the Arc of
Snohomish County’s annual family picnic, were a headliner in the city of
Arlington’s Music in the Park series, and helped raise money and
awareness at the Northwest Center’s charity luncheon, where they caught
the attention of Washington’s governor, Christine Gregoire. For
many members of Voices of the Village, performing music on stage is a
dream come true. They are accomplished performers and advocates
who have grown both musically and socially from their experience. This
program would not exist without donations and the support of our
incredible parents and volunteers.
Vocational Services
 Village
Community Services is dedicated to helping adults with disabilities
be successful in the workplace. Each year approximately 115
Vocational Services participants are helped in their search for
long-term employment with local businesses. Seventeen of these
individuals are also employed by Village Community Services’ Contracts
Shop, where they are paid to complete assembly, packaging, collating,
and other jobs for local manufacturers and businesses. The
Contracts Shop provides the opportunity for participants to earn extra
income, learn valuable job skills, and be productive members of the
local economy while they are seeking permanent employment in the
community. Over the last few years a shift in government funding toward
supporting employment in the community has decreased funding to the
Contracts Shop. Village Community Services’ is committed to
keeping the Contracts Shop as a training platform for the 17 people
employed there while also supporting them in their search for
community-based employment. Your donations help make this possible.
Residential Services
 Your
support also makes a tremendous difference for adults with developmental
disabilities who are entering their senior years. Many aging
participants are experiencing changes in health that are associated with
growing older. Accordingly, VCS’s focus has sharpened to ensure that
each participant is 100% successful in completing the tasks of daily
living while continuing to maximize their independence, health, and
safety. Our aging participants often need more intensive
assistance with shopping, cooking, personal care, and other daily living
tasks. They now visit the doctor more often, take more medications
(and experience more negative side effects), have reduced stamina and
mobility, and are retiring from the workforce or working fewer hours.
Village Community Services is dedicated to providing the level of
support each participant needs to remain in their own home
surrounded by their friends, family, and caring staff members who
understand their individual support needs. Many of our Vocational
Services participants are entering their senior years as well.
They too require more intensive accommodations to help them stay
productive in the workplace. Donations are needed more than ever
so that Village Community Services can continue providing the high level
of quality support our aging participants need to succeed.
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Gloria Poole lives in her own
home with support from VCS’s Residential Services program. |
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Jeff Depue was helped by
Vocational Services to successfully find and sustain employment
in the grocery industry. He is a valued member of the Cost
Cutter team.
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Voices of the Village member
Brandon King is a gifted musician. Brandon plays several
instruments including the keyboard, drums, and didgeridoo.
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I hope you
enjoyed learning about how Village Community Services enriches the
lives of people with disabilities. Donations are needed for
the Village Music and Arts, Vocational Services, and Residential
Services programs. Your donations allow Village Community
Services to achieve the highest standards of excellence by funding
annual staff bonuses, enhanced services to program participants, and
other priority needs that are not covered by our core government
funding. Please make your donation today! Thank you
again for your time and caring generosity.
Warmest regards,
Teri McKeehan
Resource Development Chair & Board Secretary
To make a donation today, please click the donate button below or
click here for a printable donation
form.
Village
Community Services is a 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization.
Village Community
Services
The Royal Pacific Building
3210 Smokey Point Drive, Suite 200
Arlington, WA 98223
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