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Out & About Newsletter

October 2025 edition

October Recap

A Warm, Grateful, and Inspiring Month

This October at Opportunity House, we truly embraced the fall season! It was a season of growth, gratitude, and community. From meaningful job placements to fun-filled Recreation outings and exciting Athletics achievements, we celebrated every milestone made possible by your support.

Want to see what we have been up to this month? Keep scrolling to explore our October highlights!

Community Day Services

CDS Celebrating Community, Creativity, and Learning!

October was a month full of exciting activities and accomplishments at CDS. Here's what we have been up to:

4-H Program Elections

We are proud to announce our newly elected 4-H officers:

President: Tera
Vice President: BJ
Secretary: Marc C

Congratulations to our leaders!

Learning for Life: Discover Local History

October's class explored the rich history of DeKalb and Sycamore. Students visited the Glidden Homestead to learn about how barbed wire was first invented in DeKalb!

Pumpkinfest Fun!

CDS clients in OH Industries created a spooky submission for the pumpkinfest theme "Pumpkins at the Movies" with our very own display of "Attack of the Killer Pumpkins."

Halloween Celebration

We had a blast celebrating Halloween at CDS by dancing to music, face painting, getting spooky Halloween tattoos, and showing off our costumes in a parade around the building!

Upcoming Events:

Learning for Life Graduation 2025: Wednesday, November 5th.
2026 Art Show: Wednesday, May 6th at Blumen Gardens.

Community & Vocational Supports

CSP & Vocational Services Updates

We’re celebrating a milestone in Vocational Services: Audrey Wade has officially reached his 90th day of employment at Mary’s Market!

Congratulations, Andrey!

Looking ahead, CSP is excited to host its annual Friends-Giving outing on November 12th. It’s a wonderful opportunity for connection, gratitude, and community spirit.

Residential Services

Fall Fun in Residential Homes

The residential homes have been keeping wonderfully busy this fall, embracing the season with excitement and creativity. Residents and staff have enjoyed a variety of festive activities, including:

Pumpkin carving and festive Halloween decorations
Picking out fun and imaginative costumes for the Halloween Dance
Homes filled with laughter, smiles, and community spirit

It’s been a season of connection, celebration, and creativity—building lasting memories together

Recreation

Art in the Air: Exploring Lumenaura's Glow

This October, our Recreation Program was immersed in the magic of Lumenaura, a dazzling annual event that transforms Downtown Aurora into a glowing wonderland of light and sound. As we wandered through each interactive installation, live music filled the air, creating a truly enchanting atmosphere!

We had the unique opportunity to meet up and converse with the artists behind the displays, gaining insight into their creative visions and processes. The experience was not only visually stunning but also deeply inspiring. It was an unforgettable celebration!

O.H. Athletics

O.H. Volleyball Athletes Fall Games Tournament

Congratulations to our Modified Thunder, Unified Red, and Unified Black volleyball teams for an incredible season! Both our Thunder and Black teams not only made it to State but also brought home Silver Medals. What an achievement! A huge thank you to all our athletes for your dedication, teamwork, and enthusiasm throughout the season. We hope you're proud of how much you've grown and improved since the first serve of the season. Let's carry that same energy and spirit into next year!

Thunder Modified

Thunder Unified Black

Rolling Toward Victory!

The North Sectional Bowling Competition, on October 25th, was a great day for five of our amazing bowling athletes! It was a day filled with smiles, strikes, and tough competition. Strong athletes from across the Northern area came together to showcase their skills, demonstrate great sportsmanship, and play to win gold!

Our athletes put in the time and effort to improve throughout the season, and we could not be prouder of them! Congratulations to the following athletes not only for their results in this competition, but for a great season:

Jacob — Division M12 — Silver Medal
Josh — Division M09 — 6th Place
Stanley — Division M09 — 5th Place
Sarah — Division F07 — 5th Place
Joanna — Division F08 — 4th Place

National Guard Sendoff

Wishing Tony Ruiz Well on His National Guard Assignment!

We are sad to share that this month marked the last day of HR Specialist Tony Ruiz at Opportunity House, as he begins a one-year assignment with the National Guard.

Tony has been an invaluable member of the HR Team, making significant contributions to both payroll and recruiting. His dedication and professionalism have made a lasting impact, and while he will be missed, we look forward to welcoming him back after his service.

Please join us in wishing Tony all the best as he embarks on this important journey in service to our county.

Good Luck, Tony!

Fundraising Event Recap!

Thank you for joining us at the Dirty Bird Fundraiser during Pumpkin Fest on

Sunday, October 26, 2025!

What an incredible weekend at the Sycamore Pumpkin Fest Dirty Bird Fundraiser! We want to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who stopped by to purchase a signature pork sandwich and to show their support. Your generosity helps make an impact on individuals right here in your community.

A very special thank you goes to The Dirty Bird for their outstanding generosity and community spirit. Their team went above and beyond by donating 100% of the proceeds from the fundraiser to Opportunity House. We are truly inspired by their commitment to giving back and supporting programs that empower individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Partnerships like this make it possible for Opportunity House to continue offering lifechanging services, from employment training and recreational programs to independent living support. Every sandwich sold helps create more opportunities for growth, inclusion, and success for individuals across DeKalb County.

From all of us at Opportunity House, thank you for showing up and your continued support.

Your support truly makes a difference!

Annual Halloween Dance

A Night to Remember

What a spectacular evening! Our annual Halloween Dance was nothing short of magical, filled with laughter, connection, and unforgettable memories! The dance floor came alive with creative costumes, each one demonstrating the imagination and spirit of our community.

It was heartwarming to see friends, both familiar faces and new ones, sharing smiles and dancing together! A special shoutout to DJ Z-Breezy, whose electrifying playlist and light show elevated the night to a whole new level!

We are deeply grateful to our friends from Village of Progress, Inc., for joining us and to the incredible volunteers who helped make the evening a resounding success. Your support and enthusiasm are what make events like this so special!

Click the button below or the photo above to check out more Halloween Costumes posted by our Recreation Program!

Click Here!

Happy Retirement Debbie!

Debbie Hurst 27 Years of Dedicated Service

Thank you, Debbie, for your 27 years of dedication and hard work. You will be missed dearly, and we hope your retirement is filled with fun, adventure, and everything you've been looking forward to!

Your contributions have been invaluable!

Employee Spotlight

Spotlight on Alison Mabins

Ali has been a valued member of the Opportunity House team for nearly three years. She began her journey as a Direct Support Professional (DSP), where she discovered her passion for working with adults with disabilities. Today, Ali serves as a Case Manager in our Community Supports program, continuing to make a meaningful impact every day.

In May 2024, Ali earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a focus on development. Reflecting on her studies, she shared that her education “helped prepare her for a position that was primarily involved in what she went to school for.”

Beyond her daily responsibilities, Ali goes above and beyond by volunteering with our Athletics Program. She participates as a Unified Partner in Volleyball and helps coach our Lightning Basketball Team, demonstrating her commitment to inclusion both on and off the court.

Ali is an incredible asset to Opportunity House, and we are so grateful for her dedication, compassion, and energy. Thank you, Ali, for everything you do to make a difference in the lives of those we serve!

We Are Now Hiring for our New Genoa Group Homes!

Want to be part of a team where compassion is valued, fun is part of the culture, and your work truly matters?

Join us at Opportunity House and help us continue empowering lives!

Learn more & apply today: Click Here!!!

Looking Ahead

As we get closer to years end, new opportunities are blooming! Whether it's community events, innovative programs, or meaningful ways to support and inspire the individuals we serve.

Exciting things are coming - stay tuned!