Download the Spring 2008 flyer (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

 

Now open with Spring Annuals!

 

Making a Dream a Reality

 

The Arc of Iroquois County is a human service organization committed to promoting opportunities for people with disabilities. We have embarked on a project that can benefit the entire county.

 

 As an agency, we are consistently looking for new ways to provide experiences and opportunities for the people we support while placing a great emphasis on community integration.  We are constructing a 30’ X 144’ greenhouse.  We feel our “Greenhouse” project will not only support our mission but will also be an excellent addition to our day services program and the community at large. 

 

Our goal is to provide hands on experiences and work opportunities for the people we support, utilizing the various tasks associated with running a greenhouse.  We also feel this will be an excellent resource for the people we support to integrate with members of the community.  We plan to partner with amateur and master gardeners from the county, invite local elementary classrooms for field trips, and of course there will be community contact during retail hours of the selling season.

 

We currently serve 69 people through our day services program at Welles Workshop and they will all benefit greatly from the opportunities this will present them.  Other beneficiaries for this project will include the many retired people in the community looking for volunteer opportunities.    The project also poses an excellent leisure outlet for people residing in our local nursing homes, independent and assisted living facilities.  Other important beneficiaries will be 4-H Groups, Boy Scout Troops, and schools throughout the county.  Field trips to the greenhouse will provide an added educational component to the typical classroom setting.  This would also be an excellent opportunity for high school students interested in pursuing careers in the social services or horticulture fields to get first hand experience.

 

We consider the greenhouse phase I of our long- term goal.  Our vision is to utilize the many acres of undeveloped land we currently own, to create a botanical garden for the community to enjoy.  We see the gardens as an excellent community development project not only for the town of Watseka but something the entire county could participate in and be proud of.

 

The Greenhouse project will cost a projected $134,397.00.  We are currently accessing as many financial resources as possible.  For more information regarding the project or if you would like to make a donation, please contact Julie Morgeson, Director of Day Services, at 815-432-5288 ext. 37 or JulieM@thearcirq.org.

 

 Watch our Progress!

 

Demolition

Groundbreaking

Construction

Poinsettias 2006

Spring Annuals 2007