Happy Thanksgiving from Avenues!!

The Avenues Wheeling Work Center held their annual Thanksgiving lunch last Friday with food by Corky's Catering--turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, veggies, rolls, mashed potatoes & gravy, and of course pumpkin pie.  Avenues staff pitched-in to help serve the food.  Here's some pictures from the day--Enjoy!!

                                    

Update: Coaster sales!

From a masterpiece on canvas to an item everyone could use at work or home the Avenues Art Program continues to make and sell their original coasters.

Many of you have seen them out for sale at various Avenues events or may have even purchased your own.

It all starts with a painting like this one below.  Jim worked hard on his Worhal inspired "pop art hearts."

From there the paintings are shrunken down and sealed and a set of four coasters is created.  Every single photo on a coaster is an Avenues original painting and the themes vary from pop art (above and below), Chicago buildings, and Monet paintings. 

Packaged and ready for purchase.

At this year's Spotlight On Wine Event in October the Avenues Art Program raised over $700 between painting and coaster sales which goes back to the clients for ongoing art classes and activities.

The clients continue working on paintings for the coasters and they sell for $20 per set of 4.  Keep an eye out for them at upcoming Avenues events or feel free to email Elaina Kray if interested in learning more.

ekray@avenuestoindependence.org 

Great for home, work, or gifts!

150,000 Stuffed Animals and Counting!!!

150,000 stuffed animals? Huh? Sold per year in the US? No!  This is the amount of stuffed animals that the amazing staff of the Avenues Work Center has labeled and repackaged in only the last 4 months!

 There aren't many things that these clients enjoy doing more than showing up to work every day and furthering their growth and independence, while earning their own income.

Of course it doesn't hurt when your job involves working with possibly the cutest stuffed animals ever made.

It is safe to say that the Claire’s Boutique Stores across the country will be full of these wonderful holiday gifts in great part to the hardworking and dedicated clients that work here.  

The next 150,000 is on its way!

Avenues Beyond the Runway Fashion Show

On Sunday, October 27, more than 200 guests came out to support Avenues at the 2^nd annual Beyond the Runway Fashion Show held at the Cotillion Banquets in Palatine. 

Among the guests were some of Avenues participants...

Avenues resident Lori, enjoying the show!

Nadine enjoyed the show with her mom and sister.

Avenues participant and thrift shop employee, John, took in the show with his mom, Mary.  Mary was also part of the committee who helped make the fashion show a great success.

Guests enjoyed an afternoon tea while watching 13 Avenues participants and volunteers model several outfits for sale from the Thrift Shoppe.

Nora walking the runway

Thrift Shoppe volunteer Amanda said that walking down the runway made her feel “like a professional model!” 

Not only did Avenues participants and volunteers model at the fashion show, they also sold their handmade ornaments, note cards, painted glassware, dolls, floral arrangements and pillows.

Laurel proudly holding her floral arrangements

Lenore showing off her hand sewn pillows

Thank you to all those who made the Thrift Shoppe Fashion Show a great success!  We hope to see you all next year!

Happy Halloween from Avenues!!



 Jenny--The King (or Queen) of Hearts

"Ch-ch-ch, aa-aa-aa"

 

"Hey, Hey [they're] the Monkees!"

Allen, working his way up to black belt

Andy, taking a break from his usual sports gear (or the occasional business suit) 

to dress as "Buzz Lightyear"

  

Shannan, Jenny...

David...

and Lance-O-Lanterns!!

  

"Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na--KURT-MAN!!"

And his faithful sidekick...Paulo!

"JIM--IS--IRON--MAN!"

Kevin in is Harry Potter robe

 Jary's take on Michael Jordan

Mary Grace--NOT in pink!!  Scary!

Dennis, the Cubs Fan

Connie sharing Ellen's Skeletor mask!

David--a shy Dracula

Eric--Everyone's "amigo"!

Inez as Allen's Super Hero friend

Mike as an "Imagination Mover"

Cowboy Matt

 Don't worry; it's just Paul.

"It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...SUPER-STEVE!!"

          Don't let the sparkly glove fool you--Wendy's a Smooth Criminal

           

Other fun ways to dress-up...