A Bench for Caps

A Bench for Caps

Every second thousands of pounds of plastic are being buried in the earth where it will remain for centuries. What if there was a sustainable solution that could reduce this waste and benefit families all at the same time.

Our local Girl Scouts have partnered with Green Tree Plastics in collecting bottle caps and lids to be recycled and transformed into benches for our playground!

“A Bench for Caps” is an exciting program wherein bottle caps are transformed into 100% recycled park benches that will last a lifetime. This is the most-perfect-real-life example of sustainability and it happens quite naturally as the kids can’t wait to share the story of their bench.

We need your help!

Simply collect caps and lids and bring them to Sara’s Garden. We have collection bins in the lobbies of both the school and hyperbaric center. The Girl Scouts will do the rest. It’s that simple.

Acceptable caps and lids:
  • Medicine bottle caps
  • Detergent caps
  • Deodorant caps
  • Flip-top caps (ketchup and mustard tops)
  • Mayonnaise jar lids
  • Ice cream bucket lids
  • Coffee can lids
  • Drink bottle caps
  • Hair spray caps
  • Spout caps (mustard caps)
  • Cream cheese container lids
  • Butter container lids
  • Milk jug caps
  • Toothpaste tube caps
  • Ointment tube caps
  • Cottage cheese container lids
  • Peanut butter jar lids
  • Cool Whip container lids
Not acceptable caps and lids:
  • Metal caps/lids of any kind
  • Trigger sprays
  • Fast food drink lids
  • Soap pumps
  • Lotion pumps

Together we can turn already existing plastic into custom park benches intended to last a lifetime.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Trish at twmedic519@gmail.com.

Buy Your Brick Today!

Buy Your Brick Today!

We are nearing completion of our brand new handicap accessible playground at New Horizons Academy and you still have a chance participate in a very unique way. One of the playground’s features will be a beautiful, brick paver patio with picnic tables and benches for families to enjoy.

You have until the end of the year to purchase your own “brick” with a personalized message etched into it that will leave a legacy you or your family can visit for years to come!

For a tax-deductible donation, we will personalize your limited edition section of the patio. This program offers you the chance to honor family, friends, mentors, sports teams, clubs, organizations or businesses by purchasing a personalized brick paver. The options may be endless, but the bricks are not. Reserve yours today.

“Buy a Brick” Donor Levels

  • $50.00 – 4″ x 8″ engraved brick space with 1-3 lines of text.
  • $75.00 – 8″ x 8″ engraved brick space with 1-6 lines of text.
  • $100.00 – 12″ x 12″ engraved brick space with 1-8 lines of text.

Inscriptions will be UPPERCASE lettering and will be centered on the brick. You can have up to 18 characters per line engraved, including spaces, periods, commas, quotations, etc.

You can also customize your brick with decorative clip art and logo graphics for only $15.00 more. We can also engrave your own clip art or logo for the same price. Simply upload a black & white high resolution logo where specified when you place your order.

Different sizes to choose from.
Buy a Brick. Rock the Walk!
Custom clip art and logos available.
ORDER ONLINE
ORDER ONLINE

You may suggest placement of the graphics on our order sheet under the comments section. Sometimes however it is not possible to accommodate the suggested placement in the layout. In these cases the final design will be left up to our engravers.

Make a lasting memory while supporting the playground project and investing in student’s lives, one step at a time. Help support the students at New Horizons Academy and countless families from across Northwest Ohio that will benefit from this inclusive, handicap accessible playground.

If you would like additional information or need help placing your order, please call or email Matt Rychener at 419-335-7272 ext. 1001.

Sara’s Garden to Add Occupational Therapy

Sara’s Garden to Add Occupational Therapy

We are excited to announce that we are broadening our clinical service offerings to include Occupational Therapy! In expanding our provision of services, Sara’s Garden has recently welcomed Stacie Miles (Occupational Therapist) and Kelly Hesterman (Occupational Therapy Assistant) to our team of specialists to complement and enhance our current Conductive Education fine motor program.

So, what is Occupational Therapy?

Simply put, Occupational Therapy (also known as OT) is an allied health profession that focuses on teaching skills for everyday living. The practice of Occupational Therapy can greatly vary according to the setting and clientele.

At Sara’s Garden, we serve children and adults of all ages who, for whatever reason, may be facing challenges carrying out their activities of daily living. These activities are commonly categorized under the following areas:

  • Self-care
  • Productivity (i.e. school or work)
  • Leisure and play
  • Rest and sleep

Barriers to participation in these areas of life may be due to physical or cognitive challenges, developmental delay, aging, injuries or surgery, and social and emotional issues. In these activities or areas of occupation, Occupational Therapy can assist to address issues at school, home or work which may be impacting someone’s day to day function.

At Sara’s Garden, we offer an individualized approach to assessing a client’s functional capacity and customizing interventions to achieve family-centered goals. This is achieved through supporting a person to learn new skills, modifying a task or activity and/or making changes to one’s environment, to enhance their level of functioning and safety and achieve even greater independence.

Occupational Therapy sessions at Sara’s Garden are fun and engaging, using modern and interactive play and therapy equipment. Our goal is to collaborate with families and teachers to better serve the needs of you and/or your child.

For further information on Occupational Therapy services at Sara’s Garden and New Horizons Academy please contact Dave Burkholder at 419.335.7272 or via email at davidb@sarasgarden.org.

Ready to Play?

Ready to Play?

Our handicap accessible playground project is nearly complete! As the saying goes, “Nothing worthwhile is ever easy.” This has been one of the most challenging projects we’ve ever done… it has been everything but easy.

Yet, despite all of the challenges we’ve faced throughout this process, it has been amazing to see it take shape and know that this was going to be something that kids from all over would be able to enjoy and benefit from.

As we near completion, we reflect back on all of the individuals, businesses and foundations who have partnered with us to make this dream a reality. From donating funds to help finance the project… to spending countless hours on “less than ideal” soil conditions working to prepare the surface and erect the equipment… we can not begin to adequately thank everyone involved for their tireless support and dedication to this project. We are truly humbled and blessed by your efforts.

As is the case with everything here at Sara’s Garden, this playground is truly a community project. Thank you for being a part of it.

For complete photo galleries of the playground’s progress please visit our Facebook page.

Ready, Set… PLAY! It’s Time to Build a Playground.

Ready, Set… PLAY! It’s Time to Build a Playground.

Believe it or not, the time has finally come to begin construction on our playground!

Beginning next month, Sara’s Garden will break ground on Northwest Ohio’s first handicap accessible, inclusive playground. This playground will address the needs of typically developing children, as well as children with neurological, intellectual and physical disabilities. Our goal is to design and create a truly inclusive playground that accommodates all children and challenges each of them at their own developmental levels. This playground is designed to go far beyond ADA compliance. It will be a space that encourages children of all abilities to play with one another. It will have a variety of equipment and activities to enable children with disabilities to experience movement, play and independence along with their typically developing peers.

The initial estimate for this project came in at well over $400,000. Thankfully, through equipment discounts and community support through in-kind labor and product donations, Sara’s Garden has been able to bring the cost of the project down to $387,000. The funding raised will be used to pay for site excavation, surface drainage and preparation, fully accessible playground equipment, concrete work for sidewalks and a basketball court, and the rubberized handicap accessible playground surface.

We now need your help to bring the project to completion. The construction of the playground will be a community build project. What that means is that once the site has been cleared and all the holes for the equipment have been dug, we will need teams of volunteers to sign up to work in June to help us put the playground equipment together and help us spread stone which will serve as the base for the playground surface.

Below is the tentative schedule for needed volunteers for the upcoming playground build:

Saturday, June 13th – Community Playground Build

  • Two 4 hour volunteer shifts
    • 1st Shift: 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
    • 2nd Shift: 12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
  • 30 volunteers needed per shift
  • Lunch provided to both shifts at noon

Sunday, June 14th – Community Playground Build

  • Two 4 hour volunteer shifts
    • 1st Shift: 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
    • 2nd Shift: 12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
  • 30 volunteers needed per shift
  • Lunch provided to both shifts at noon

Tuesday, June 16th – Friday, June 19th – Surface Base Prep

  • One 3 hour volunteer shift each evening
    • 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.
  • 5-10 volunteers needed each evening

If you are interested in volunteering by yourself or with a group, please contact Matt or Paul at 419.335.7272 as soon as possible.

We are so grateful for the support we have received for this project from area individuals, businesses and organizations. This playground would not have been possible without your generosity and partnership.

Habitat for Humanity Housing Partnership

Habitat for Humanity Housing Partnership

We are thrilled to announce that we will be partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County, Ohio on an upcoming housing project!

Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County has repurchased an existing Habitat home to “recycle”. The previous Habitat partner family was blessed with an opportunity to move forward in her life, thanks in part to her Habitat experience. Although Habitat’s existing partner families are not ready to be homeowners yet, Habitat felt led to repurchase this home and recycle it as a community service project. We are so excited that Habitat has decided to partner with Sara’s Garden on this project. We will be able to provide this home as short term living quarters for our clients and families who travel here for services. This is an exciting opportunity to combine our efforts and thus further both missions to help more families in need.

Coming up in the near future, there will be opportunities for volunteer groups to come clean, paint and lay new flooring in order to get the home ready for families to stay.

Below is a schedule of events for the upcoming Sara’s Garden home recycle project:

Friday, April 24th & Saturday, April 25th – Painting & Trim Work

  • Two 4 hour volunteer shifts
    • 1st Shift: 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
    • 2nd Shift: 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
  • 15-20 volunteers needed per shift
  • Snacks and lunch provided

Friday, May 1st & Saturday, May 2nd – Flooring

  • Two 4 hour volunteer shifts
    • 1st Shift: 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
    • 2nd Shift: 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
  • 10-15 volunteers needed per shift
  • Snacks and lunch provided

Friday, May 8th & Saturday, May 9th – Punch List and Cleanup

  • Two 4 hour volunteer shifts
    • 1st Shift: 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
    • 2nd Shift: 12:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
  • 10-15 volunteers needed per shift
  • Snacks and lunch provided

Friday, May 15th & Saturday, May 16th – IF NEEDED

  • Volunteers and shifts will be determined at a later date if needed
  • Snacks and lunch provided

Sunday, May 31st – House Dedication

You are more than welcome to work the entire day if you want. If you are interested in volunteering by yourself or with a group, please contact Matt or Paul at 419.335.7272 as soon as possible.

Since Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County, Ohio was established in 2007, they have put 10 families in safe, affordable housing. Habitat for Humanity is continually grateful for contributions they receive from the United Way, churches, businesses and individuals in order to complete these vital projects. Although this is a recycle project and not a new build, funding is still necessary to complete the project’s updates.

Habitat for Humanity of Fulton County wants to put faith into action, completing this recycle project by June 1st so that they can begin a new construction project this fall. Habitat’s new Home Repair Ministry is beginning this month and they want to serve a second family with a new construction next year. The need for Habitat’s ministry is ever-growing.

We are asking for many things besides volunteers – prayer, monetary donations for building materials, hospitality (meals for the job site), and for you to spread the word. How much funding is needed? Habitat estimates that it will cost approximately $7,000 to complete this Recycle project for Sara’s Garden. Building the new home that they hope to start in the fall is much more expensive. It costs $50 to build one square foot of a Habitat home so they need $67,500 to complete that project. Please prayerfully discern how you may serve this ministry. You can join their Square Foot Club to help them reach their goal of recycling 1, repairing 1-3, and building 2 new homes by year-end 2016.

Habitat for Humanity is a local ministry, serving the needs of neighbors in our county. For more information or to schedule a representative to visit your organization, contact the Habitat office at 419-335-7000 and ask for Heidi Kern, the executive director. Please prayerfully consider how you can provide safe, affordable housing by volunteering or making a donation to their mission. Gifts may be designated to specific projects, including the Sara’s Garden recycle. Thank you for what you are considering. Habitat supports and connects individuals and groups in their desire to use their spiritual gifts to glorify God.

Happy National Conductive Education Day!

Happy National Conductive Education Day!

There are millions of children and adults across North America with motor disorders who could be learning how to become more mobile, independent and self-confident with a dynamic learning system called Conductive Education (CE).

Today, February 19, 2015, we join together with the member organizations of The Association for Conductive Education in North America (ACENA) to advocate the power and purpose of Conductive Education.

Developed more than sixty years ago in Hungary by Dr. Andras Peto, Conductive Education maximizes the independence and mobility of children and adults with motor disabilities, including stroke survivors, and those with cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, acquired brain injuries, Parkinson’s disease and spina bifida. CE operates from a core belief in neuroplasticity – the lifelong ability of the brain to reorganize neural pathways based on new experiences – and on the premise that no matter how severe the disability, people can learn and improve when they are motivated. Conductive Education helps individuals learn their way to independence. CE is a widely accepted practice with proven success across the globe, and is integrated into the community rehabilitation and educational systems in Hungary, Israel, Germany and Great Britain.

Conductive Education methodology has a transformative effect on mobility and independence. Using a holistic and intensive approach that combines medical knowledge with educational methods, clients can gain control over their bodies – and accomplish tasks that the families may have never thought possible.

Conductive Education has the potential to make a significant, life-changing impact on the mobility and independence of close to 9 million people in the United States and Canada. Millions more will also indirectly benefit – spouses, parents and caregivers – by having loved ones become more independent, motivated and self-sufficient. With increased mobility, strength, problem-solving skills, confidence, and self-esteem, not only will the client’s quality of life be improved, but so will the entire family.

To find out if Conductive Education is right for you or a loved one, or for more information about Sara’s Garden, please contact Matt Rychener, Executive Director at (419) 335-7272 or via email at mattr@sarasgarden.org.

Buy a Brick. Rock the Walk!

Buy a Brick. Rock the Walk!

Construction of our brand new handicap accessible playground at New Horizons Academy is right around the corner. We plan on breaking ground on the project as soon as school lets out this spring. Now you can participate in a very unique way. One of the playground’s features will be a beautiful, brick paver walkway surrounding the playground with picnic tables and benches for families to enjoy.

Purchase your own “brick” and help lead the way! Your message etched into your own brick space will leave a legacy that you or your family can visit for years to come!

For a tax-deductible donation, we will personalize your limited edition section of the walkway. This program offers you the chance to honor family, friends, mentors, sports teams, clubs, organizations or businesses by purchasing a personalized brick paver. The options may be endless, but the bricks are not. Reserve yours today.

“Buy a Brick” Donor Levels

  • $50.00 – 4″ x 8″ engraved brick space with 1-3 lines of text.
  • $75.00 – 8″ x 8″ engraved brick space with 1-6 lines of text.
  • $100.00 – 12″ x 12″ engraved brick space with 1-8 lines of text.

Inscriptions will be UPPERCASE lettering and will be centered on the brick. You can have up to 20 characters per line engraved, including spaces, periods, commas, quotations, etc.

You can also customize your brick with decorative clip art and logo graphics for only $15.00 more. We can also engrave your own clip art or logo for the same price. Simply upload a black & white high resolution logo where specified when you place your order.

Different sizes to choose from.
Buy a Brick. Rock the Walk!
Custom clip art and logos available.
ORDER ONLINE
ORDER ONLINE

You may suggest placement of the graphics on our order sheet under the comments section. Sometimes however it is not possible to accommodate the suggested placement in the layout. In these cases the final design will be left up to our engravers.

Make a lasting memory while supporting the playground project and investing in student’s lives, one step at a time. Help support the students at New Horizons Academy and countless families from across Northwest Ohio that will benefit from this inclusive, handicap accessible playground.

If you would like additional information or need help placing your order, please call or email Matt Rychener at 419-335-7272 ext. 1001.

Summer Camp 2014 Update

Summer Camp 2014 Update

It is so hard to believe that July is nearly over. This has been an exciting month here at Sara’s Garden!

The 2014 summer camp got off to an exciting start on July 7th. A total of 38 students from 9 states across the country arrived with their parents in anticipation of many positive gains. The children were able to participate in one of three programs or a combination of the three programs. Families are offered Autism Interventions, Sensory Integration, and Conductive Education services. Some families also choose to take part in Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy treatments.

This amounts to a long, full day for these little warriors. They are working so hard!

The children have faced new challenges and high expectations. Along with new challenges and high expectations come struggles for these children. Needless to say, the first few days were difficult for them, but by the end of the first week we were already seeing significant changes and gains. The children began to trust the teachers, aides, and conductors and appeared to realize that these people really will help them to reach their independent potential.

Thus, we have children who are taking steps for the first time, increasing head control or sitting independently. One child walked with a walker by herself for the first time in her life. Another student took 50 steps without support from anyone. There has been less stemming, better focus, and the ability of some students to control negative behaviors.

Another significant component of this year’s camp has been the positive relationship building which is taking place between students. Friendships are being established which is huge for our students and parents. Without a doubt, the first half of summer camp has been so uplifting for all of us.

We can’t wait to see what the children are able to accomplish by the end of camp on August 1st.

Come Enjoy a Day at the Ballpark

Come Enjoy a Day at the Ballpark

Carrie Dobaczewski is heading up a fundraising effort for Sara’s Garden in conjunction with the Toledo Mud Hens. The purpose of this work is to raise money for a scholarship fund that will help support families struggling to raise money to be able to afford HBOT treatments for their loved ones.

The premise is this… we have been assigned 15 dates over the course of the upcoming baseball season where we will have the opportunity of sending a team to 5/3 Field to work in one of their concession stands. Proceeds from the sale of refreshments from our stand will then be donated to Sara’s Garden.

This should be a fun time to get together working a concession stand at the ballpark. It is also be a great outreach opportunity for church youth groups or Sunday school classes to get together working for a great cause. You’ll get to learn more about the services we offer and the amazing families we serve in the process.

Dates for Mud Hens games are below. Teams of 12 to 14 people per game are needed to staff the concession stand. If you would like to work a game or two please contact Carrie at cdobaczewski@hotmail.com.

  • Sunday April 6th – Arrive @ 12:00 pm
  • Thursday April 17th – Arrive @ 4:30 pm
  • Sunday April 27th – Arrive @ 12:00 pm
  • Saturday May 10th – Arrive @ 5:00 pm
  • Friday May 16th – Arrive @ 5:00 pm
  • Thursday May 29th – Arrive @ 4:30 pm
  • Sunday June 1st – Arrive @ 3:30 pm
  • Tuesday June 17th – Arrive @ 5:00 pm
  • Thursday June 19th – Arrive @ 10:00 am
  • Saturday July 12th – Arrive @ 4:30 pm
  • Friday July 18th – Arrive @ 4:30 pm
  • Thursday July 31st – Arrive @ 5:00 pm
  • Friday August 1st – Arrive @ 4:30 pm
  • Sunday August 10th – Arrive @ 3:30 pm
  • Sunday August 17th – Arrive @ 3:30 pm

Thank you in advance for being a part of this project.

For more information on the fundraising program offered by the Toledo Mud Hens, click HERE.