Adopt-A-Home: People Caring About People

By Jan Howard

It’s about people caring about people and providing service to others.

The Rotary Club of Newtown and Newtown Lions Club are among 25 local businesses and organizations that have adopted a residence through Datahr’s Adopt-A-Home Program. The club members help out with maintenance and upkeep of the Newtown residences, make friends with the residents, and offer social events.

A third residence in Newtown, which is home to six women, is in need of an adopter.

Datahr’s Adopt-A-Home program, established in 1997, matches civic organizations and area businesses with its community residences that provide individuals with disabilities the opportunity to live on their own. For many individuals this is the first step toward regaining independence from an illness or injury, helping them to build skills they need to perform daily activities and participate in the community.

Datahr has over 80 residences, including group homes, condos, and apartments, in Fairfield and Litchfield counties in Connecticut and Westchester and Putnam counties in New York.

The scope of an organization’s involvement is entirely up to the volunteers, and is often based on the needs of each individual residence, according to Cindy Sturm, director of development at Datahr. Each home has a list of projects that need to be undertaken and activities the residents enjoy. Organizations can select what projects or activities they would like to do and the amount of time they want to give.

Organizations, businesses, or individuals can also provide needed furnishings or equipment. Currently, residences in Newtown are in need of a new dishwasher, wall oven, and stove. 

Socialization with people who are not disabled is an important part of Datahr consumers’ integration into the community, according to Ms Sturm and Community Relations Manager Dan Borgia.

“It doesn’t have to be one organization adopting one residence,” Ms Sturm said. The duties can be split among two groups, with one doing social activities and one doing maintenance chores. “Each organization brings something new to the home,” she said. “Nothing is set in stone.”

Ms Sturm said the Adopt-A-Home Program has benefited Datahr’s consumers in a number of ways. “Their house is brighter, something has been added to it. They can feel good about it,” she said. “It tells them someone in the community cares for them, that they are not isolated and alone.

“Once people become attached, there’s a connection that builds, a magic that happens. There are friendships that last forever. They are really sharing experiences.”

Mr Borgia said members of organizations or businesses that have adopted homes often stop in to say hello between organized events or projects. “They have become friends.”

Involvement with a residence provides members of organizations and companies with out-of-work socialization that is of benefit to the group as a whole. “There is a feel-good, warm, fuzzy feeling,” Ms Sturm said. “They are helping people in their own community.”

Because of funding restraints, Ms Sturm said, “There are a lot of beautiful things that are not included. That’s where Adopt-A-Home comes in. The groups provide the added touches.”

Rotarian Scott Senete and Lion Paul Krueger chair events at their clubs’ adopted residences. These activities may range from landscaping and yard cleanup to providing holiday decorations and hosting parties or barbecues.

Mr Senete got to know about Datahr residences because he lives next door to one in Brookfield.  “I like what Datahr’s doing,” Mr Senete said. “Datahr offers a home environment with care. It helps people stretch, and not be socially isolated.”

Working at the Hawleyville home “is fun,” he said.

Recently, 16 members of the Rotary Club transformed the yard of the residence in Hawleyville. They raked the yard, removed debris, and re-seeded the lawn as needed. They also pruned trees, removed and replaced shrubs, weeded flowerbeds, planted perennials, and applied mulch.

 Following the yard work, the club enjoyed what Mr Senete termed “some great fellowship with the consumers and staff” during a pizza party. A week later, three Rotary members returned to finish spring clean-up chores in the yard.

Mr Senete said the most important thing his club provides is socialization with the residents. “It ties in with the general goals of Rotary to provide service to the community. It’s people caring about people.  You do this for the people. They’ve gotten to know people in the club. They enjoy the company. They’re shy at first, but then they open up. You kind of draw them out. Recently, one said, ‘When are you coming back?’”

The participation level of Rotary and Lions members with their Datahr residences varies. Mr Senete said it’s usually based on schedules. “Usually, we have 20 people show up. It also depends on how much people power is necessary.”

Mr Krueger agreed. “The size of our group depends on the size of the project, as many as required.”

Rotary has been involved with the program for about three years.  “My goal is to have another project in the fall as well as another social event,” Mr Senete said.

For the past two years, Mr Krueger said Lions members have participated in three or four events or activities at their residence, as dictated by needs. “We recognize that Datahr has limited resources for extra activities or needs so if we can fill those gaps, it’s one of the reasons we exist. We like to do as many community service projects in Newtown as we can. The Lions motto is ‘We serve.’ We do projects for the betterment of the home, Christmas decorations, and last year we purchased a barbecue grill for them,” he said. “We do landscaping and painting. A future project will be installing a fence along their lot line.”

Plantings, shrubs, and flowers make the residence more attractive, Mr Krueger said. “They recently asked for a number sign for their house. We’ll have the sign made and erected. If we can help in a small way, that’s what we do.”

Mr Senete said Rotary members come away with good feelings from their involvement with the residents. “They teach you to be content with what you have.”

Organizations or businesses interested in Datahr’s Adopt-A-Home Program can contact Cindy Sturm, director of development, at 203/775-4700, ext 447.

Datahr Rehabilitation Institute, located in Brookfield, is a not-for-profit, community-based health and human services provider, serving nearly 1,000 people each year with chronic developmental and neurological disabilities. Established in 1953, Datahr focuses on integrating people with disabilities into the communities in which they live and work.