You Can Help Our Heroes
As we deal with the COVID-19 crisis, Carey Services is committed to ensuring the safety of the individuals we serve, and the dedicated direct support professionals who are supporting them. We also dedicated to supporting the community and the many people in the community who support our work.
You can read a letter that Jim Allbaugh, the agency’s president and chief executive officer, released today. You will find the letter here.
Plain Language Information on Coronavirus
There is a tidal wave of information available from many sources on the Coronavirus and the COVID-19 disease the virus causes. Much of that information can be technical and hard to understand.
The Arc of the United States, a national advocacy group for people with disabilities of which Carey Services is the local chapter for Grant and Blackford counties, is distributing a simple information packet to help people understand the virus, and it has some specific focus areas for people with disabilities. The packet is available in English and Spanish.
For the English version, click here.
For the Spanish version, click here.
New Carey Services Strategic Plan Released
After announcing a new organizational focus in early July, Carey Services is making available the agency’s new three-year strategic plan to interested stakeholders and community members. The plan continues to emphasize the agency’s long-standing work with low-income families and pre-natal mothers and children up to three years old, along with individuals with disabilities while including new agency mission and vision statements and a strong plan to focus agency efforts for the future.
“I am excited to share our new plan and focus with the communities we serve,” said Jim Allbaugh, Carey Services’ president and chief executive officer. “Our board, numerous staff members, many individuals we serve, and others in the community have helped us get to this point with the final product.”
The agency’s new mission statement has been strengthened to clarify purpose: “Turning abilities into opportunities.” The vision statement has also been clarified: “A world where all people are empowered and equally valued in the community.”
As part of the strategic planning process, the agency developed four priorities that will guide strategies and assure sustainability:
• Build brighter futures
• Deliver world-class supports
• Employ compassionate people
• Leverage charitable donations
“Carey Services’ operations have been guided by a set of core values for 65 years,” Allbaugh said. “The strengthened priorities and strategies in the new plan don’t replace our core values, but they do provide overall guidance in coming months and years as we make decisions – both large and small – to even more powerfully impact our work and the individuals we serve. We plan to be more iconic in our industry and communities.”
You can download the document here.
Lily the Lightning Bug Released into Community
Greg Maynard (left), Carey Services’ director of fund development, and Lisa Dominisse, executive director of Family Service Society, make sure Lily the Lightning Bug is comfortable as she settles in on her first community visit.
Lily the Lightning Bug is in the wild! The artists in the Creative Hearts Art Studio created Lily to commemorate the naming of Say’s Firefly as the official state insect last fall, and now she’s traveling the communities we serve raising awareness of the studio and Carey Services.
You can see Lily at Family Service Society, and while you’re there take a selfie and tag #lilythelightningbug and #FSSI for fun. We want to see who visits Lily and also get the word out.
Lily is available for display in local businesses and organizations of the communities we serve. Contact Greg Maynard, Carey Services’ director of fund development, to find out more information. You can reach him at (765) 668-8961, ext. 124, or gmaynard@careyservices.com.
Thank you also to Indiana Michigan Power Co., for supporting the artists in the Creative Hearts Art Studio in their artistic endeavors.
SplashABILITY Event July 25
The inaugural SplashABILITY event for people with disabilities will be July 25 at the Marion Splash House.
The event is geared for folks with all abilities, including people with disabilities, their loved ones and their caregivers. The event will be 7-9 p.m. with a discounted entrance fee of $3 for each person (regardless of ability). The public is invited, and the event will have some special features, including:
- Music and volume levels selected with people with disabilities in mind
- Briefer duration waves in wave pool
- Full access to pool in areas otherwise designated for small children
- Wheelchair lift capability
- Concession stand open on main, pool-deck area (puree equipment will be available)
- Outdoor games and activities also will be available to those who don’t want to be in water
Applebee’s Dining to Donate Event Feb. 22
Carey Services is in the opportunity-creation business, and here’s your opportunity to easily help the agency.
On Feb. 22, all you have to do it eat a meal at the Marion Applebee’s at Five Points Mall, and you will help Carey Services create opportunities for the individuals we serve.
As part of the Applebee’s Community Connections program, Carey Services will receive 15 percent from each check that day. You must present the special Dining to Donate flyer (or show it on your digital device) to the server for Carey Services to be eligible for the donation.
The donation opportunity is good all day, and carry-out orders also are eligible. Customers just have to present the flyer.
You can download the flyer here.
January Access Newsletter Available
Carey Services has released the January edition of Access, the monthly newsletter that highlights agency activities.
The Access newsletter features information about this year’s A Night at Carey event, which will be March 17 at Roseburg Event Center, and will also include annual presentation of The Carey Awards. Also in the newsletter is the monthly installment of the Caring and Serving series that highlights agency success stories, this month focusing on the agency’s annual report.
You can find the January issue here.
You can find all Caring and Serving articles here.
Fiscal Year 2017 Annual Report Available
Carey Services’ annual report for fiscal year 2017 (July 1, 2016-June 30, 2017) is available. The report includes letters from Steve Smithley, board chair, and Jim Allbaugh, president and CEO, as well as financial reports. It also includes an overview of the agency’s service area and programming in specific counties and the agency’s many affiliations.
You can view the report by clicking here.
FacePlace Tenderloin Fundraiser Aug. 10
Rock’s Concessions will conduct a tenderloin fundraiser to benefit the FacePlace program at Community School of the Arts on Aug. 10.
Many Carey Services clients participate in FacePlace, which is a CSA program that emphasizes musical performance.
The event will be 4-7:30 p.m. in front of the CSA building in downtown Marion. Cost will be $10 for all you can eat. Children 5-12 $7.00 and kids under 5 “FREE”