Residents@JV

SMILE Picnic at St. Paul's UCC - German Township

Sunday mornings at Jacob’s Village are fast-paced, pre-scheduled, and followed to a ‘T’. Everyone is getting ready for the day and preparing for Church. Mike and Wanda are regularly picked up by their respected transportation provider, but on this day Wanda didn’t feel up to going and staying after Church to help with KP Duty for the St. Agnes Catholic Church Summer Social dinner. The others are driven to Church by the Home Coordinators at different times for Bible Study and morning worship service at Westwood General Baptist Church. Debbie is always brought home after Church from spending weekends with her mother; and when everyone returns home right after the noon-hour, most of the time, there is an outing planned of some sort. Usually the residents are rushed around to grab a quick bite and prepare to leave again. On this Sunday, June 03, 2007, Wanda, Donna Kay, Debbie, Michael, Scott and Home Coordinators Gloria and Joe were invited to be a part of a SMILE picnic on the grounds of the St. Paul’s U.C.C. in German Township beginning with a blessing at 1:00pm. As the Jacobs Village bunch arrived, a pitch in dinner inside the Church’s activity room on the ground floor was being setup. Fried chicken was being furnished by the organizers Nina Fuller, David and Theda Girth, while the Administrative Director, Brenda Walters was unable to attend. Gloria and Joe handed over the Jacob’s Village’s contribution of potato salad and two bags of chips that were mixed in with the other dishes that included: bread, beans, corn, pasta, all types of salads and desserts. A tasty lunch it was and everyone had all they wanted, especially desserts. Arrangements were made to have Mike dropped off at St. Paul’s and he arrived after everyone else had finished eating but not before the food was put away. Games were held outside for the children behind the shelter house at the East end of the parking lot and a good time of fun was had. There were 8 children present playing games with about 16 adults, minus the Jacob’s Village bunch, total in attendance. SMILE on Down Syndrome is a support group in Southern Indiana and the tri-state for parents with a child born with Downs Syndrome. They provide resources, educational meetings, and social events for parent networking. SMILE is an acronym from the words making up the necessary characteristics for the required care for a child afflicted with Downs Syndrome: Support, Management, Information, Love, and Encouragement. Formed in 2002, Evansville’s Buddy Walk celebrates National Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October. This year’s event will be September 29, 2007, at the Vanderburgh County-Scott Township 4-H Fairgrounds. Jacob’s Village has been a supporter of SMILE on Down Syndrome’s Buddy Walk since they opened with services in 2004.

posted by J V Resident Blog @ 11:14 AM