2023 Hometown HEROES Magazine LINCOLN DAILY NEWS May 2023 Page 31 “The LCDR’s work is very important for the individuals that attend the programs. Some of the individuals’ favorite activities are when the staff takes them on day trips or adventures such as fishing, walks or hiking trails at the nearby parks, attend various area sports games. “The clients collected and sent for recycling hundreds of pounds of plastic caps to make a bench for their outdoor area. They assist in the planting and maintenance of a community garden and participate in various other activities and events. “Once a week a small group of rotating individuals volunteer at the Humane Society of Logan County where they socialize with the cats and dogs, spending quality time and giving them love and attention they might not otherwise receive due to the volume of animals the HSLC has at a time. The quality time spent with the animals is also very therapeutic for the individuals and has shown to aid in decreasing unwanted behaviors and increase participation in some individuals who volunteer. “The LCDR aids in providing these individuals with fun activities, learning experiences, and opportunities they might not have access to without the Lincoln Center. The heroes aren’t just the staff, but also the loving and willing individuals that attend every day. Together, they change the lives of each other and those around Logan County.” LDN reached out the LCDR and was graciously invited to visit the center and see firsthand the remarkable work that goes on there. When driving past the building, all seems quiet, and it is hard to believe just how much activity is going on inside the building. First, Peggy Ross-Jones is the Regional Director of Developmental Rehabilitation and serves as the administrator at the LCDR. Karen Deany is the Community Day Services Director and oversees the overall plan for educational and socialization development of the clients. The building is divided into numerous classroom or workshop areas, where the clients are led through a variety of activities from maintaining what they learned in school to advancing their overall knowledge and teaching them life skills. There is even an area where clients perform assembly and packaging tasks for Eaton Corporation in Lincoln and reap the reward of a regular paycheck. Deany led a room-to-room tour of the building and shared what was taking place in each area and how it helped the clients. Continued --
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzExODA=