Latest / WIXN AM 1460 - Shaw Local Radio / Talk-Line: Sue Ely of Kreider Services

Transcript

Talk-Line: Sue Ely of Kreider Services · WIXN AM 1460 - Shaw Local Radio

• 0:01
  Speaker 1: Good Morningsalk Valley. You're listening to the Waking Crew, where
• 0:05
  Speaker 1: you're never far from all the new sports and entertainment
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: needed to start your day right. And now we are
• 0:11
  Speaker 1: turning over to our talk line portion of the show
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: where we are sitting down with our good friends from
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: Dixon Crider Services, and today I'm speaking with administrative manager
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: Sue Eli. Sue, thanks so much for joining us. How
• 0:25
  Speaker 1: are you today?
• 0:26
  Speaker 2: I'm fine? Good morning great.
• 0:28
  Speaker 1: Before we dive into all the fun stuff, could you
• 0:30
  Speaker 1: give our listeners a quick refresher and Crider Services your
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: mission and all the great things that you're doing to
• 0:36
  Speaker 1: serve our community and beyond.
• 0:37
  Speaker 2: Oh, we do so much here at Crider Services. We
• 0:43
  Speaker 2: have our individual Our goal is for our individuals to
• 0:46
  Speaker 2: reach their fullest potential by having a meaningful day, opportunity
• 0:50
  Speaker 2: to live, work, and participate in their community. So that
• 0:56
  Speaker 2: is so different for each one of our individuals, as
• 1:00
  Speaker 2: you know, is their developmental disability. But we have quite
• 1:04
  Speaker 2: a quite a few that are in the workforce now,
• 1:06
  Speaker 2: which is wonderful. You'll see them out and about. We
• 1:10
  Speaker 2: just did a story on one on our Facebook page
• 1:14
  Speaker 2: about a gentleman that is working at Kitsman's Lumber. That
• 1:17
  Speaker 2: is a really neat story about Adams, so reach out
• 1:21
  Speaker 2: to that. And then last month was the Community Awareness Months,
• 1:31
  Speaker 2: so there's quite a few stories out there about of
• 1:33
  Speaker 2: our individuals out there working some of them. We have
• 1:38
  Speaker 2: a great volunteer group as well. That volunteer are all
• 1:41
  Speaker 2: different different organizations throughout throughout the Illinois, so it's it's wonderful.
• 1:48
  Speaker 1: Well, it sounds like you've had quite a busy fall already, Sue.
• 1:52
  Speaker 2: We have. We have it. Fall is their favorite time here.
• 1:57
  Speaker 2: We've done Trunk or Tree. We did a huge, huge
• 2:00
  Speaker 2: Halloween dance over at the Elks which we invite Village
• 2:04
  Speaker 2: of Progress and also Self Help and Sterling that come
• 2:08
  Speaker 2: over and it is just it's a two hour and
• 2:11
  Speaker 2: all they do is dance the whole time. It is
• 2:13
  Speaker 2: just so nice. And a shout out to Crider Alliance,
• 2:17
  Speaker 2: one of our boards, because they support us for that event.
• 2:22
  Speaker 2: And then it's just Village of Progress comes. They get
• 2:25
  Speaker 2: to meet different friends and same with Self Help and
• 2:29
  Speaker 2: they all thoroughly enjoy it and they decor and they
• 2:31
  Speaker 2: all wear costumes, so it's quite it's quite cute. It's
• 2:36
  Speaker 2: a great, great event. We have over there.
• 2:39
  Speaker 1: You know, I absolutely just love events like this because
• 2:42
  Speaker 1: it shows the emphasis not just on the services you
• 2:46
  Speaker 1: folks provide, but the recreation, social engagement and community inclusion
• 2:50
  Speaker 1: that your support. You know, that you're providing for the
• 2:53
  Speaker 1: folks that you serve there. How is the turnout and
• 2:56
  Speaker 1: how did those individuals respond to the event we have.
• 3:01
  Speaker 2: We had probably over one hundred and twenty ish people there.
• 3:06
  Speaker 2: All of our individuals from Dixon Stirling or Dixon and
• 3:11
  Speaker 2: Rock Falls came usually Joe Davies, which they do or
• 3:14
  Speaker 2: we have three homes up in Joe Davies County, and
• 3:17
  Speaker 2: we only had about ten or twelve of them that
• 3:20
  Speaker 2: showed up due to the fact they were getting ready
• 3:22
  Speaker 2: for the Galena Big Parade. They had Halloween parade they
• 3:26
  Speaker 2: had so they participated in that. So we had a
• 3:29
  Speaker 2: couple of big floats in there and it was really
• 3:32
  Speaker 2: it was an extent for them up there. The next
• 3:34
  Speaker 2: day so usually they all come down as well, so
• 3:38
  Speaker 2: this time they could not. But it was it was
• 3:42
  Speaker 2: a packed full. The elksist full and it was just really.
• 3:47
  Speaker 1: Neat and you know, and you had mentioned know this
• 3:50
  Speaker 1: was sponsored by your Crider Alliance board. How important is
• 3:54
  Speaker 1: that kind of board support for Crider's programs.
• 3:58
  Speaker 2: They are Creider Alliance Board through their membership drive which
• 4:02
  Speaker 2: they will be starting in January. The funds that they
• 4:04
  Speaker 2: get from that from our membership is they come and
• 4:09
  Speaker 2: they advocate for our Crider services as far as classes,
• 4:13
  Speaker 2: any classes that we have, any programs that we have
• 4:17
  Speaker 2: for our DSPs or our staff to help further educate them.
• 4:22
  Speaker 2: And also they do meaningful supports for our individuals as well,
• 4:26
  Speaker 2: and this is one of the big ones they do.
• 4:28
  Speaker 2: They do a spring one as well, and then they
• 4:31
  Speaker 2: also sponsor a Christmas decorating party which each home of
• 4:38
  Speaker 2: Chrid is judged on the way they decorate and they
• 4:42
  Speaker 2: sponsor a pizza party for each home that way. So
• 4:44
  Speaker 2: it is it is a great great organization to get
• 4:49
  Speaker 2: involved in and the membership from that, the membership money
• 4:53
  Speaker 2: from that goes to things like that.
• 4:56
  Speaker 1: These are just you know, important programs and I'm so
• 4:59
  Speaker 1: glad this support is out there. And you know, speaking
• 5:03
  Speaker 1: more on on Crider and what you folks do you
• 5:05
  Speaker 1: want to talk about the holiday appeal? Can you share
• 5:08
  Speaker 1: the big picture on what that is, when it starts
• 5:10
  Speaker 1: and why it's so significant for Crider Services.
• 5:14
  Speaker 2: The Holiday Appeal is our biggest fundraiser that we have
• 5:17
  Speaker 2: here at KRID and it starts the day after Thanksgiving
• 5:20
  Speaker 2: and it's called this Little Light of Mind. So every
• 5:25
  Speaker 2: twenty five dollars donated throughout day up throughout the day
• 5:29
  Speaker 2: after Thanksgiving all the way through February is matched by
• 5:33
  Speaker 2: a secret stanna, so the twenty five dollars becomes fifty dollars.
• 5:38
  Speaker 2: So it is very nice. And what we do is
• 5:41
  Speaker 2: we light light bulb for every twenty five dollars and
• 5:46
  Speaker 2: the tree is located on Glina Avenue and it is yeah,
• 5:54
  Speaker 2: it's it's really nice because it gives the opportunity for
• 5:58
  Speaker 2: the donor to donate to different parts of Crider as well.
• 6:01
  Speaker 2: They have an opportunity to do the counties, the homes
• 6:05
  Speaker 2: they can donate to meaningful day they can there's all
• 6:09
  Speaker 2: different opportunities that they can. They have a choice to
• 6:13
  Speaker 2: donate to or just to Crider overall.
• 6:16
  Speaker 1: And this is just such an important, you know, kind
• 6:19
  Speaker 1: of fundraising event. What what kind of impact did you
• 6:21
  Speaker 1: see last year's Holiday appeal providing for for your services?
• 6:25
  Speaker 2: It was huge. Last year was our biggest event. So
• 6:29
  Speaker 2: this year, of course my goal is a little higher,
• 6:32
  Speaker 2: and yeah, I like to be competitive, so hopefully we'll
• 6:37
  Speaker 2: get and we'll hit that. And it's just got such
• 6:40
  Speaker 2: a meaning if it just goes, you know, towards Crider
• 6:44
  Speaker 2: and our individuals, which is huge.
• 6:46
  Speaker 1: No, that's you know, competitive is the way to go
• 6:48
  Speaker 1: always raising that that bar and you do this right
• 6:52
  Speaker 1: after Thanksgiving? What's the thinking behind that timing?
• 6:56
  Speaker 2: We stay within our We get United Way funding from
• 7:02
  Speaker 2: our local United Way, so we have a window that
• 7:05
  Speaker 2: we cannot do fundraising and it starts the first day
• 7:09
  Speaker 2: we can do it is the day after Thanksgiving, So
• 7:11
  Speaker 2: that's where we're added for.
• 7:14
  Speaker 1: Okay, And how can members of the community get involved?
• 7:17
  Speaker 1: And are there donation options, volunteer opportunities or partnership There.
• 7:22
  Speaker 2: Is Crider Services dot org. We accept donations that way
• 7:29
  Speaker 2: mailing in a check work. We also send out a
• 7:34
  Speaker 2: a pamphlet on what meaning what's the holiday appeal is
• 7:39
  Speaker 2: all about? So we can suremail that to you as well.
• 7:43
  Speaker 2: So there's lots of ways you can donate to lots.
• 7:46
  Speaker 1: Here absolutely, what message would you like to send to
• 7:49
  Speaker 1: our listeners about the importance of giving and supporting Criter's
• 7:53
  Speaker 1: mission during this holiday season.
• 7:55
  Speaker 2: Well, as we all know, the government and is not well,
• 8:02
  Speaker 2: they're just not the SNAP program. They're just in decisive
• 8:07
  Speaker 2: what they're going to do with us. And we are
• 8:09
  Speaker 2: funded through the SNAP program all of our individuals that
• 8:12
  Speaker 2: are developmental disabilities. So at this time of the holiday
• 8:16
  Speaker 2: appeal is going to be huge for us because the
• 8:19
  Speaker 2: SNAP program is a big part of our funding for
• 8:22
  Speaker 2: our food for our individuals. So it's going to definitely
• 8:27
  Speaker 2: help in that aspect. And this share of all years
• 8:29
  Speaker 2: is going to be a tough one to see all
• 8:33
  Speaker 2: that if we don't get it back.
• 8:36
  Speaker 1: So no, absolutely, I mean, you know, giving is always
• 8:40
  Speaker 1: such an important part, and you're absolutely right right now
• 8:43
  Speaker 1: in this moment, this time of government shut down and
• 8:47
  Speaker 1: confusion and uncertainty, it's certainly more important now more than
• 8:52
  Speaker 1: ever it would seem. Especially. I mean, you folks served
• 8:55
  Speaker 1: more than six hundred individuals through through your programs from
• 8:59
  Speaker 1: early interventions into community living. How how does Chriter keep
• 9:02
  Speaker 1: evolving to meet these changing needs?
• 9:06
  Speaker 2: We it is hard, it's tough. We just keep thinking
• 9:12
  Speaker 2: of different ways and different aspects that we can do.
• 9:15
  Speaker 2: And you know, are we hanging by a thread? Prop Yes, definitely,
• 9:21
  Speaker 2: So any any donation helps us. I mean, it's a
• 9:25
  Speaker 2: huge factor within our organization.
• 9:28
  Speaker 1: So no, absolutely, and I think that's the same for
• 9:32
  Speaker 1: for any organization that that relies on. You know, the
• 9:36
  Speaker 1: the goodwill of the community right now is that that
• 9:39
  Speaker 1: feeling of hanging on by a thread. There's there's not
• 9:41
  Speaker 1: much to go around, and it's uh, you know, it's
• 9:44
  Speaker 1: it's a really tight time right now, and that's definitely
• 9:47
  Speaker 1: why it's more important than ever, uh, you know, for
• 9:50
  Speaker 1: folks to be out there and doing that. And I
• 9:53
  Speaker 1: know that, you know, part of the struggle for organizations,
• 9:55
  Speaker 1: you know, like yours is finding and retaining dedicated support
• 9:59
  Speaker 1: staff as that challenge. Uh, you know, volunteerism seems to
• 10:03
  Speaker 1: be on an all time low sometimes. How are you
• 10:05
  Speaker 1: folks addressing that? Over at Criter.
• 10:09
  Speaker 2: We are volunteering is is pretty good actually, And as
• 10:14
  Speaker 2: far as hiring, of course, we're always looking for a
• 10:17
  Speaker 2: good candidate for our dfps to take, you know, to
• 10:20
  Speaker 2: help with our individuals at our homes. So yeah, it's
• 10:24
  Speaker 2: it's going pretty well on both of those ends right now.
• 10:27
  Speaker 1: So are there any particular programs or services you'd like
• 10:32
  Speaker 1: to spotlight, especially given the time of the year.
• 10:35
  Speaker 2: We want to shout out to o S office this
• 10:40
  Speaker 2: past two weeks. Two weeks ago they donated they had
• 10:47
  Speaker 2: a donation for for CRID and it was very very nice.
• 10:53
  Speaker 2: We used to have a family that donated sheets, pillows, towels.
• 10:59
  Speaker 2: She would use like all her Burgener's Bucks and her
• 11:02
  Speaker 2: colds Bucks and she would order these by cases. So
• 11:06
  Speaker 2: she since has passed away. So OS asked one of
• 11:11
  Speaker 2: our board members, the president of our Crider Alliance board
• 11:14
  Speaker 2: took U put on this and on her floor at
• 11:18
  Speaker 2: OSF here in Dixon, she did a sheet drive for us.
• 11:22
  Speaker 2: So I'll twin sheets and blankets, and we want to
• 11:25
  Speaker 2: really shout out to them because it really it meant
• 11:28
  Speaker 2: a lot to our individuals and it also means a
• 11:31
  Speaker 2: lot for us that we do not have to go
• 11:32
  Speaker 2: and purchase all this stuff, which is pretty expensive right now.
• 11:36
  Speaker 2: So it's just been a wonderful thing. So we really
• 11:39
  Speaker 2: want to shout out to them and.
• 11:41
  Speaker 1: Say thank you, well, a big shout out to them,
• 11:44
  Speaker 1: and thank you from you know, from you guys and
• 11:47
  Speaker 1: from here us here as well. You know, anytime people
• 11:51
  Speaker 1: can can do things to kind of lessen the burden
• 11:54
  Speaker 1: on organizations like yours. You know that you guys are
• 11:57
  Speaker 1: doing such important workout in the community, and everybody can
• 12:01
  Speaker 1: use a helping hand, especially the helping hands, you know,
• 12:06
  Speaker 1: helping others out in the community, you know, and we're
• 12:08
  Speaker 1: we're getting close to kind of wrapping up the year.
• 12:10
  Speaker 1: You know, November and December are going to breeze through us.
• 12:13
  Speaker 1: What do you see is some of the biggest opportunities
• 12:15
  Speaker 1: and maybe some of the challenges for for Criter, you know,
• 12:18
  Speaker 1: going into the new year.
• 12:20
  Speaker 2: Well, obviously our challenges, like I just met mentioned was
• 12:24
  Speaker 2: a SNAP program that's going to be a big challenge
• 12:26
  Speaker 2: for us this year, just you know, plugging away day
• 12:31
  Speaker 2: by day here is seems to be you know, we
• 12:35
  Speaker 2: just we just go day by day and hopefully that
• 12:41
  Speaker 2: you know, it's we make it. We try making it
• 12:43
  Speaker 2: very fun and enjoyable for our individuals. That's a big thing.
• 12:48
  Speaker 2: They've got a lot of different things planned for the
• 12:50
  Speaker 2: holiday season. So probably nextcellentth I'll be focusing more on that.
• 12:56
  Speaker 1: So absolutely well we will be looking forward to hearing
• 13:00
  Speaker 1: more about that the next time we talk, because we're
• 13:03
  Speaker 1: going to be having more of these conversations moving into
• 13:06
  Speaker 1: the future. And you know, speaking of that for our listeners,
• 13:09
  Speaker 1: you know, if they'd like to learn more or get
• 13:11
  Speaker 1: involved or you know, even support Crider out outside of
• 13:15
  Speaker 1: you know, things like the holiday appeal. What's the best
• 13:17
  Speaker 1: way to do that, Sue.
• 13:19
  Speaker 2: Crider Services dot org is our website and we are
• 13:22
  Speaker 2: in the midst of changing that all up. But it
• 13:24
  Speaker 2: is the best way, or to call our number eight
• 13:27
  Speaker 2: one five SU eight eight six six nine one and
• 13:31
  Speaker 2: we can help you that way as well.
• 13:33
  Speaker 1: Well, there you go, folks. Crider Services such an important
• 13:38
  Speaker 1: organization in our community. They're helping folks. They could use
• 13:42
  Speaker 1: your help. You your community could use your help, and
• 13:46
  Speaker 1: alls you need to do is get a hold of
• 13:47
  Speaker 1: Crider and they will definitely let you know how best
• 13:50
  Speaker 1: to do that. Sue, thank you so much for coming
• 13:52
  Speaker 1: on the show and sharing all of this important information
• 13:56
  Speaker 1: and for all the work that you folks are doing
• 13:59
  Speaker 1: over there. Eric Creiter, we really appreciate it.
• 14:02
  Speaker 2: Thank you.