Happy New Year! During the Holidays, we spread good cheer throughout our programs and in our community with fun celebrations, festive contests,and rewarding daysspent volunteering. We also celebrated our many success stories as a Provider of Choice and an Employer of Choice in our Annual Report.
The New Year is off to a strong start too! We launched our international website, Connected Creators, in partnership with two local nonprofits. Now, our artists with distinct abilities can become entrepreneurs!
We're also excited the renovations are underway at our newest site in Agawam! This means more individuals will have an opportunity for great days with us in the coming years.
We are so lucky to have wonderful supporters like you to help make dreams come true with donations to our Holiday Appeal or by choosing us while shopping on AmazonSmile. Thank you for your support all year long. We look forward to making more memories in 2020!
We've partnered with Berkshire Hills Music Academyand Riverside Industries, to showcase artists with distinct abilities on this user-friendly website that highlights their talents and entrepreneurial spirit.
We highlighted our
shining moments in an annual report sent out in November. Inside, you'll learn about our strategic plan, innovative programming, and goals for 2020 and beyond!
Our life engagement programs' Friendship Club baked and exchanged
homemade cookies to share with lots of smiles - and hot cocoa!
Irish Step Dancing has become a new favorite activity for our programs as we bring the community to us. Lots of upbeat music and fast-paced movements make for a great day with friends!
Career Pathways
Great job, David! He has been working at
Big Y World Class Market as a Service Clerk and
loves his job. He is valued as a punctual, enthusiastic and courteous employee.
Thank you to Chile Salazar of
Ludlow Boys and Girls Club and Meredith Perri of
MassLive for inspiring individuals on
pathways to careers to land the jobs they want.
With Our Community
Individuals in our programs were proud to be featured in the Art Show held by the Holyoke/Chicopee Office of the Department of Developmental Services to the recognizeunique abilities.
Our programs gathered at our Main Street Program to enjoy a presentation on
eating healthywith kale from
Chicopee Public School's FRESH Program. They also practiced their
culinary skills chopping and kale for pita bread pizzas.
We are
lifelong learners! Our Community Engagement Program explored the Sweet: A Tasty Journey exhibit on the history of candy making and marketing at
The Springfield Museums.
As a part of their
Hope Project each month, our Main Street Program brings treats and facilitates craft projects with the children and their families at
The Ronald McDonald House.
Thanks to a partial grant from Health New England, our life engagement programs enjoyed dance lessons from Ohana School of Performing Arts. After a lot of hard work learning routines they showed off their moves at a high-energy dance performance for friends, family and community members!
Cheerful Celebrations
Creative Contests
Thanksgiving feasts are a time for reflection and gratitude. Our programs celebrated with friends, fun - and all the fixins!
Visits from Santa Claus and staying cozy with warm smiles, homemade treats, and ugly sweaters mean great days spent celebrating the season!
Friends came
together to ring in the New Year in style with
balloon drops, sparkling cider cork pops, and lots of surprises!
Our Community Engagement Program let their
creativity shine with a Thanksgiving turkey contest!
Our "elves" were busy spreading
good cheer and
decorating for the snowman and Cultural Christmas tree contests! Our
Positive Behavior Supports Committee selected our Springfield Program to receive Three Kings Day breads for winning the Christmas Tree contest with their Germany-themed nutcracker tree. Our Westover Maintenance Systems won a "snowcial" party for the best snowman.
Delivering on Excellence
Appreciation
Our employees make our great days happen!
We show
appreciation for our dedicated staff with fun raffles and gifts throughout the year.
Healthy lifestyle baskets were raffled and mugs with low sugar treats were given as a part of our
commitment to wellness. Everyone loves showing their Sunshine Village pride in their logo'd orange hoodies too!
Developing Leaders
Congratulations to the
Leadership Training Program cohort for 2019-2020! Through a partial grant from
The Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, they will be taking part in a series of trainings we designed to develop them as future leaders both personally and professionally.
