The Franklin News-Post
P. O. Box 250
310 Main Street, SW
Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151
540-483-5113
Fax: 540-483-8013
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| New group working to continue services |
Mona Sams, who specializes in animal assisted occupational therapy, demonstrates how Rising Opportunities clients can card fleece from llamas and alpacas to be sold as yarn.
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Monday, November 16, 2009
By CHARLES BOOTHE - Staff Writer
A grassroots effort to continue the services of Didlake Inc. in Rocky Mount is under way after the non-profit company recently announced it is closing its operation here.
Diane Lovell is spearheading a new group, Rising Opportunities, which is working with Didlake to gradually take over the facility on Franklin Street.
Lovell said the process actually began earlier this year when some concerned citizens met to discuss the issue.
"We started meeting late spring or early summer trying to identify gaps in services for adults with disabilities here in Franklin County," Lovell said, adding that the news of the closing of Didlake, which is based in Northern Virginia and opened its facility here in 2004, prompted the meetings.
"There's just not a lot of options for adults with disabilities with families in the county," she said. "We want to continue what was spurred by Didlake, address the day support need now and fill in other gaps as well, creating other opportunities for intellectual and developmental growth."
Lovell recently held two meetings at the facility to garner community support.
"We had two sessions with about 40 people coming through," she said. "We had a real good turnout."
Between 50 and 60 people are now either active with Rising Opportunities or have pledged support, she said.
The organization is currently in the process of applying to the state for a license, and that can take several months.
Didlake has agreed to work with Rising Opportunities during the transition process, she said.
Lovell said the program will be enhanced as it stands, with a focus on adding more services to county adults with special needs. One of those services is including ways clients can make money.
"We are trying to develop it as a business with employment opportunities down the road," she said. "That's real exciting."
During the recent community meetings at the facility, visitors got a first-hand look at one of those possible opportunities.
Mona Sams, who specializes in animal assisted occupational therapy, works with Didlake clients and brings llamas and alpacas to the facility. She showed the group at the meetings how clients can learn to "card" fleece from llamas and alpacas.
Carding is a process that cleans the fiber to get it ready for spinning into yarn. The fiber can be donated from people who raise the animals.
That yarn, she said, can then be sold.
Other activities at the facility that are being added include a new exercise and nutrition component by Christy Hodges Ploch, who has a studio in the same building, and a music program provided by Gabe Stalnaker with Downtown Music.
"We are also trying to develop an onsite library for clients." Lovell said.
The facility already offers such activities and services as outings in the community, arts and crafts, and daily living skills development.
Lovell said the group is now searching for support in all areas, from financial to donated material to volunteers.
"We need age-appropriate and skill-level appropriate reading materials, including magazines, and cd players in every room," she said, adding that clocks in every room would be great as well.
Although much of the income to the organization will eventually come from Medicaid, which pays for some services, Rising Opportunities will need funding during the transition and after to not only maintain services but add new ones.
That's why Lovell said she would welcome donations. She has also sought the support of the Franklin County Board of Supervisors.
"We'd love to pull more folks from the community into the program," she said. "These adults should not be so isolated and segregated from the community. It's not very inclusive and we're trying to build a more inclusive community."
Anyone who wants more information or wants to help can contact Lovell at 493-3170.
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