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...

 

Walk 'n Roll Benefits Recycling Avenue Program

On Saturday, September 21, more than 70 people came out to Lake Arlington to support Avenues at the 6^th annual Walk ‘n Roll.  Proceeds from the event will benefit the Recycling Avenue program.  A program of Avenues which provides training, employment, socialization and the opportunity to earn a paycheck to people with physical and intellectual disabilities.

The Recycling Avenue Program has been successfully collecting and recycling small electronics by setting up and servicing collection bins in communities and coordinating collection drives since 2007.

Additionally, the group runs a virtual thrift store on eBay, which lists and sells the electronics and other household items that are donated to Avenues.

Participants in the Walk ‘n Roll not only walked around Lake Arlington, but also played games for a chance to win prizes.

 

 

Everyone went home with a goody bag and one lucky raffle winner even went home with Chicago Bears tickets valued at $750+!

 

 

Thank you to all those who helped make the 6^th Annual Walk ‘n Roll a huge success!  We hope to see you all again next year and remember to donate your small electronics to Recycling Avenue!

 

A Truly "Touching" Story

This is Jennifer.

While the internet is a buzz with the recent news of Apple's latest iPhones being released, Jennifer is just as excited to be able to use her handy ole iPod touch.  Jennifer is one of the many deaf individuals Avenues to Independence serves. Jennifer usually communicates using sign language but not every person she encounters is fluent in ASL.  

 It was a major breakthrough when it was discovered  that  Jennifer loved using the touch screen on one of her staff's iPads. Jennifer was then given an iPod touch of her own with the hope this technology could greatly impact her life and expand her ability to communicate. 

Jennifer was asked how she liked using her iPod touch and what kind of things she likes using it for.  She typed her answers directly onto her iPod touch for you to see.

Jennifer's response

She now uses this technology to communicate with her staff and to play some of her favorite games.  Before having access to this kind of technology Jennifer would go through word search books and math worksheets faster than her staff could keep up. Now she has instant access to all these games and applications right at her fingertips:

Jennifer's apps and games

This is just one of the many ways having access to technology can “touch” the lives of our clients.