Red Wiggler Community Farm is a sustainable Care Farm where people with and without developmental disabilities come together to work, learn, and grow healthy food. Despite an increased focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workforce, adults with I/DD are often excluded. As a result, individuals with I/DD have a greater unemployment rate compared to the general population. Since 1996, Red Wiggler has met this need for employment by providing meaningful work for adults with I/DD by operating our 120-member organic vegetable Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Red Wiggler successfully balances vegetable production alongside its inclusive mission providing opportunities for neurodivergent individuals to be teachers and leaders.
The Foundation and the Silver Spring Civitan Club provided funds to purchase a golf cart for use on the farm, to replace one that is 15 years old. This will be used daily during the growing harvest season.
A golf cart serves as not only useful farming equipment, but as an inclusive training tool. It is used to transport people and tools and used to pull wagons. Staff and Growers are trained to drive and operate the golf cart. A detailed training checklist and safety policies are used throughout the training process. Golf carts are generally user friendly and less intimidating than tractors. By offering this training and skill, Growers are empowered and gain a sense of independence and pride. Red Wiggler often hosts student groups on the farm, many of which are neurodiverse/individuals with ASD (autism spectrum disorder). By witnessing our Growers driving the golf cart, these students are empowered themselves and recognize meaningful employment is a realistic goal. Red Wiggler budgets for general maintenance and regular upkeep for farm equipment. We are confident in our ability to care for a new golf cart.
The Kindness Café + Play in Charlottesville, VA worked with the Thomas Jefferson Civitan club to present a grant for the purchase of one espresso machine, two under-counter refrigerators and an ice maker.
Kindness Cafe + Play is a non-profit coffee shop located in Charlottesville, VA that provides employment for adults with cognitive disabilities while creating a joyful, inclusive community space. Kindness opened in July of 2020 in the lobby of the Brooks Family YMCA. Currently, Kindness employs 17 adults with disabilities. These employees have thrived during their time at Kindness. As one employee stated recently in an interview for a local magazine,
“Kindness has made me realize that I’m more capable than I thought I was.”
Kindness cashier
For most of our employees, this opportunity has been life changing because Kindness provides a supportive environment where success is expected and appropriate scaffolding is provided to each individual. At work our staff is connected socially, has opportunities to learn and grow, and feels a sense of purpose.
“We don’t know where [our daughter] would be without Kindness. It has given her a necessary place and purpose.”
Father of a Kindness barista
After 3 and a half years of operation, we’re excited to add a second Kindness location in Charlottesville. Westminster Church has generously offered to host Kindness Cafe in their Common Grounds building. This is an excellent opportunity for their organization. This location is close to the University of Virginia, student housing, University offices, and residential homes. More importantly, Westminster has offered an arrangement similar to their current agreement with the YMCA. Kindness Cafe will pay for all construction costs and purchase all necessary equipment. Then Westminster will not charge rent while Kindness is operating. This significantly decreases overhead costs going forward and creates a clear path for a sustainable future at both locations. Adding this second location will allow Kindness to hire more individuals with cognitive disabilities.
The Foundation partnered with the Chester Club to supply funds to improve and enhance camping facilities and programs.
SOAR365 creates life-fulfilling opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Services SOAR365’s wide range of programs provide support through all life stages. When an individual with disabilities comes through our doors, we work hard to understand their needs, desires, dreams, and goals; and to provide them with services that work best for them. In 2023, 1,589 infants, children, youth, adults, and seniors found life-fulfilling opportunities in one or more of the following SOAR365 programs: Pediatric Therapy, Youth Services, Adult Day Support, Respite, Summer Camp, and Employment Services. Participation levels are increasing across all SOAR365 programs, and we anticipate 2,137 individuals receiving services in 2024, a 34% increase over last year. SOAR365 has operated summer camp and other programs at Camp Baker since 1956.
This funding for these enhancements for Camp Baker allow SOAR365 to continue to provide life-changing Summer Camp, Respite and Adult Day Services for 555 children and adults with disabilities annually. The proposed improvements have been carefully considered and will help provide a best-in-class experience for adult day, respite, and camp participants for years to come. The impact of this investment is far greater when you consider our participants’ family members who will also benefit from your support of this project.
· Utility Terrain Vehicle & storage building
· Pool Upgrades: Shade structures & automatic chlorinator
· Fire Pit Accessibility (concrete pad, sidewalk and ramp modification)
· Retreat Enhancements (sensory room, mattress toppers/bed railings, water fountain/bottle filler
The EBT Foundation runs the East Broad Top Railroad (EBTR), a heritage tourist railroad designated a National Historic Landmark. The oldest operating narrow-gauge railroad in the US and only original one ease of the Mississippi River chartered in 1856. The EBT Foundation is on a mission to save one of America’s most endangered historic sites dating to a time when our country transitioned from an agrarian society to an industrial economy and doing what we can to ensure access to all wishing to learn about the history of the EBTR. While EBTR is one of the most accessible heritage railroads, this historic shop complex has buildings which date back to 1880s and even 1872 when the railroad was constructed and therefore, not all areas of the property are accessible to all individuals.
This organization has been welcoming people who are neurodiverse and/or have other disabilities. We received letters of support from individuals and organizations who attested to their openness to welcome and include individuals with disabilities.
The request is for a five seat and one wheelchair golf cart, sensory items (such as noise canceling headphones, stress balls, fidgets, and weighted lap pad), other administrative equipment and a ramp to assist golf cart. The EBT Foundation -
The Foundation in conjunction with the Annapolis Civitan Club provided funds to the Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) to expand its safety measures for people with I/DD.
CRAB, in partnership with the State of Maryland, Anne Arundel County, and the City of Annapolis, built and operates the premier Adaptive Boating Center (ABC). The ABC has earned national and international attention and promotes barrier-free recreation to empower people with disabilities, recovering veterans, and youth from underserved communities and their families. CRAB program offerings for people with intellectual disabilities include adaptive sailing, powerboating, fishing, and radio-controlled sailing. CRAB offers varying degrees of experience, from basic sailing and boating skills to competitive regattas. The nature of CRAB programs brings guests in close proximity to the water. That is why safety is the highest priority. CRAB understands that people with intellectual disabilities require an even higher level of diligence and support regarding water safety. That is why CRAB has identified additional equipment necessary to ensure that all CRAB programs remain 100% safe for all participants.
The grant will provide safety items, among them an AED, safety hook, boat lift sling and hanger, sunscreen, personal floatation devices, compasses, first aid kits, overboard rescue system, buoy, fire extinguisher, and radio,
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