Physical Plant Updates & Giving Tuesday

Gerry Beagles • November 8, 2024


It’s hard to believe that soon it will be mid-November and we’ll all be making plans for our Thanksgiving celebrations. With all the tension and conflict that are present in many parts of our world, it is still very true that we have much to be grateful for. I have been emphasizing to our staff recently that my gratitude for our agency just continues to grow as I experience Garden Center Services as being a haven of safety, support, and kindheartedness for the individuals we serve and for our employees. 


I have frequently spoken about our services and programs and how proud I am regarding the quality of our supports and the high marks we get from the state surveys. An additional massive area of responsibility that we deal with is the upkeep, maintenance, and repair of the agency’s many properties and vehicles! We currently have 10 group homes, the 15 bed ICF, the State Road community day services program, the thrift shop/administrative offices on Kedzie Avenue, and 25 vehicles at last count! Now, knowing the wear and tear on your homes and cars, can you the imagine the impact over time on our holdings! 


Overseeing this huge task are the two fine gentlemen you see pictured here; Mr. Bryan Kochanny, Director of Maintenance and Transportation and Alan Maciel, Maintenance Specialist. Yes, you heard me right, TWO!! I am amazed at what these guys are able to take care of. Under the direction of Mr. Ralph Storino, Director of Fiscal Management, Bryan and Alan repair many things on their own and also manage the subcontractors that are brought in to work on more complex concerns or new installations. 


Just in the last six weeks or so here are some of the projects we’ve tackled; painted multiple bathrooms at the Moody CILA, completely redesigned two bathrooms at the ICF to be totally accessible, painted one of the BMA Manor apartments, laid the extensive in-ground piping needed for the new generator that will power the ICF in case of a natural disaster, and mechanical work on multiple vehicles. Please realize these are the projects dealt with in addition to all the daily crisis that come up.


The other fact that I can share with you is that there is very little state funding provided to cover the extraordinary expense of these physical plant needs. We spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to keep our properties safe and looking nice, and it is our fund development efforts that help make this possible, which is a great opportunity to talk about Giving Tuesday!


This year, Giving Tuesday will be on Dec. 3rd. This is a day identified nationally when individuals and businesses are asked to consider making charitable donations to non-profits as a way of kicking off the Christmas Season of caring. Here at Garden Center Services we would certainly appreciate it if you would choose our agency as one of the organizations you donate to. 


Thank you, and on behalf of myself, Cindy, and the Board of Directors,

May you all have safe, healthy, and joy filled holidays.


Gerry

Other Articles

By Gerry Beagles July 11, 2025
Dear Garden Center Services Family & Friends, I want to start off by wishing each of you a happy and safe summer! Even though we’ve had times where the temperature has been a little toasty, I so appreciate the sun-drenched days with all the opportunities for fun and frolic. It does my heart good to view the posted pictures of the individuals we support enjoying all kinds of activities and experiences out and about in the community. I want to give a big shoutout to the staff at our homes and day services that use a lot of energy and creativity to make these outings possible! I must admit that the recognition and celebration of Independence Day last week had lost some of its childlike excitement and meaning for me due to the passage of the Big ##### Bill in Washington. Though the supporters of this bill claim that it only focuses on “waste, fraud, and abuse,” the projected cuts that it contains could devastate millions of people with disabilities who receive life sustaining and enhancing services through Medicaid and other safety net programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. For some time one of my favorite quotes has been from former Vice President Hubert Humphrey. When dedicating a building in D.C. on Nov. 1, 1977, he spoke to the treatment of the weakest members of society as a reflection of a government: “The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy, and the disabled.” I was personally drawn towards working in this field in the mid-1970s because I could sense that there was a sincere and genuine movement underway that would alter the approach to serving people with developmental disabilities. The 1980’s was a time when many states started to close their large institutions and through Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services allow individuals with disabilities to receive services and supports in their family homes, in their own homes, acknowledging and honoring the contributions they make as members of our neighborhoods and communities. To toil and struggle and rejoice in the accomplishments this movement has made in the last 5 decades has been incredible, and to see the changes we’ve made at Garden Center during the last 22 years as my time as the Executive Director, fills me with gratitude. And, we’ve still have a lot more that we’re planning on accomplishing on behalf of the awesome individuals that we’re honored to spend time with! So, what is our response going to be to the recently passed Reconciliation bill? We’re going to keep holding our heads high as we fight the good fight at the state level and keep focused on the multiple essential projects that are underway. What I am keenly aware of is my need to bring more discretionary, non-State funds, into our agency. Most of you reading this newsletter are already generous supporters of our agency, and so I’m not necessarily asking you to open your pocketbook. What I am asking, is that you would please share any contact information with me of people, or businesses, that you think might be interested in supporting a worthy cause like Garden Center Services! I just want the opportunity to share our story, the stories of the brave people we support, with a larger audience. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me by email, or you can call me at 708-560-4400. Thank you for everything! Peace, Gerry
By Gerry Beagles May 14, 2025
Little did I know, on May 2nd, 2003, that I would be undertaking the role as Director of Garden Center Services that I am blessed enough to still be fulfilling today! Some of you probably remember that at the time I came on board, the name of our agency was Garden Center for the Handicapped. Changing the wording was easy; changing the approach to how the individuals we support are emboldened to make their own choices and create their own lives has been exhilarating and extremely hard work. There are many reasons that my passion for this work hasn’t waned but let me just share a few with you. First and foremost, it is the people we serve. I have spoken frequently, especially when spending time with new employees, about the tangible benefit that comes with working in this field; interacting with caring, curious, resilient adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, who are the most unpretentious people you could ever spend time with. Next, if you are lucky, you end up working side-by-side with so many compassionate, committed employees that are like-minded and spirited in their desire to raise up the individuals we support and help them to have the lives they deserve. At Garden Center Services I have often felt the line between fellow staff members and chosen family gets quite blurry. Lastly, it is an incredible opportunity to be working in the disability services area during a time of change, when individuals are being empowered to learn and use their own voices, to advocate for themselves, and to make choices such as where do they want to live, who do they want to live with, how do they want to spend their days, …etc. I want to express a deep appreciation for the families, parents & guardians, friends, and the local business community that have been exceptionally supportive of the direction that we have taken the agency. Change can be difficult, and that’s why I am so thankful for the open-mindedness, trust, and respect that I have experienced as the Executive Director. We have a very committed, involved group of individuals that serve on the agency’s Board of Directors. They give up their time, energy, and often their resources to ensure that Garden Center is following through on our commitment to the people we serve. I want to express my gratitude to three members of the board that stepped down after serving 2 three-year terms. Ms. Donna Blair, Mr. Tony DiMiele, and Ms. Ava Rhodes-Smith. Their guidance has been invaluable over the last six years! Let me also introduce the four new people that have just joined the board. Ms. Kate Akin, Mr. John Considine, Ms. Kari Riordan, and Ms. Jenny Wojcik. You will learn more about them in the coming newsletters. A Happy Spring to All, Gerry
By Gerry Beagles April 17, 2025
Any of you that listened to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s remarks yesterday about the “autism epidemic” would have spent your time more intelligently if you had watched an episode of the Three Stooges. Kennedy referred to autism as a ‘disease’, versus a developmental disability, and stressed how it destroys families and greatly limits the contributions that persons with this neurological condition can make to society. What a bunch of hogwash! There are many individuals dealing with autism that are living contented, productive lives filled with connection, contribution, and meaning. There are people in the arts, playing sports, employed, paying taxes, enjoying loving relationships, and certainly sitting on the damn toilet! The Secretary’s message is just more misinformation and simply reinforces the stigmatization that holds individuals with an autism diagnosis down and keeps so many in our country from experiencing the gifts and positive impacts that they share.  Please join us and the many advocates supporting persons with neurological differences in seeking a future for these incredible, courageous individuals, where they are suitably championed to create and enjoy the lives they deserve!
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