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Community Link
Annual Appeal
THE BIG BRASS BELL summoned us students back to class from recess and lunch. Each class was in charge of the bell for a month, and each student was given the bell to ring for one full day. Exactly how my fourth-grade teacher chose the student of the day was a mystery. But as the month wore on, one thing became clear, she wasn't choosing me. I began to cry, and asked, "Why won't you let me ring the bell?" She stammered a confession that she couldn't imagine how I could possibly ring the bell--as I had no arms, no hands. "Let me try," I begged. Embarrassed, she left to retrieve the bell, and when she returned, I asked her to put it on the sidewalk. I sat down, kicked off my shoes, and grasped the handle with both feet. Ding, Ding, Ding! The bell echoed louder across the schoolyard with each swing of my legs. For me, that was the sound of belonging!
~ John Foppe, executive director of Community Link
COMMUNITY LINK rings the bells of belonging, overcoming the fear, uncertaintly and awkwardness associated with disabilities.
Inclusion--combining disability with possibility--is the heart of what we do. We educate disadvantaged families. We train adults with developmental disabilities to maximize their options for dailing living, work, housing and leisure. We help the larger community learn how to value and include the disabled.
Our services include Pre-Birth supports, Early Intervention for children to age 21, Developmental Training, Production Workshop, Job Coaching, CILA group homes, ICILA in-home supports, and limited Respite Care.
Our 37-year-old, accredited, not-for-profit, non-governmental, charitable agency (founded as Clinton County Rehabilitation Center Inc. and based in Breese) now serves more than 350 adults and 250 children annually across seven counties of Southwestern Illinois.
THIS SEASON . . . please join us in making Community Link stronger, by giving your most generous gift.
YOUR GIFT changes lives: $15 buys parenting-education materials for a family; $35 pays for two hours of respite care to relieve weary caregivers; $70 provides an outing for four persons; $100 underwrites four hours of job coaching; $250 covers one day of supervised residential care; $500 translates into two weeks of life-skills day-training for an adult--producing direct, long-term results.
THANK YOU! . . . from all who are served by Community Link.
Buddy Walk
April 24, 2010
Carlyle Lake Pavillion
9:30 check-in, 10:30 official start
'Til 12:30 - lunch, crafts sale, drawings, free games
Buddy Walk primarily supports Community Link, and also helps the National Down Syndrome Society.
Local Sponsorship Info: 618-526-8800
It's easy to join or form a team ... or make and encourage donations.
Need technical help?
E-mail support@firstgiving.org or
call 618-526-8800
