Village Learning Center Report by Kelly
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Kelly gave a presentation about what the Village Learning Center does and how we have helped.
Since 2001 Humble Rotary has been a “Partner in Caring” with The Village thru monetary donations and the help of many of its members over the years.
This past year we received a $5,000 donation from you to help defray the cost of our transportation services. We thank all of you for your support to serve individuals with developmental disabilities in our community.
Some of the transportation services that you help provide are taking clients to doctor appointments, work and shopping. You help individuals who live at Village at Hickory Glen live independently by providing the transportation from our apartments to the Day Program, and to school. You also help families by giving them the ability to have their child picked up and dropped off from home. You also allow us to provide community based activities daily such as going to the movies, bowling and volunteering at local charities such as HAAM, VAP and Society of St Stephens.
The Village provides transportation to all of our 180 clients for a small, affordable fee which does not come close to covering our operational costs which include fuel, driver salaries and maintenance. In addition to donations such as yours, we help to pay for these services from our annual “Fund A Cause”, Metro Ride Share, Van advertising opportunities, as well as, donations from foundations and corporations.
One of these donations was given by Halliburton last year who helped us purchase two Ford Transit connects. The Transit connects are smaller and more fuel efficient when we only have to carry 1-2 passengers at a time.
We have also provided transportation to the elderly from local assisted living facilities in our community to First Presbyterian Church of Kingwood since 2001. We formed a partnership with First Presbyterian 14 years ago to provide transportation to their church and in turn they have provided support towards our transportation program. We should be receiving a new bus from The American Red Cross thru a grant this month or next. Through the grant we only have to pay for 20% of the purchase price of the new vehicle and First Presbyterian has paid this for us three times in the past fourteen years.
Transportation services including fuel and maintenance showed a loss of $51,223 last year excluding payroll. Even though the losses are significant transportation is an essential service that has to be provided since the majority- 99% - of the individuals that we serve do not drive.
Humble Rotary is recognized as a donor to the Village in our Annual Report, the bi-annual newsletters, and on the website. The Village greatly appreciates your support and Kim Brusatori, our Founder, told me to thank you personally for not only this year’s donations but the support you have shown over the years. She relayed that it is our Community Partners that make what we do possible and we are extremely grateful for your support. It is only through you that we can provide the necessary services for individuals with developmental disabilities in our local community.
The partnership between Humble Rotary and The Village has been very rewarding for me personally as well. Since I joined Rotary, this year alone, I was able to assist with the Rotary Catfish Festival and Car show, I participated in the HAAM Raise the Roof Chili Cook Off, we presented a service project to HAAM and to Mission Northeast, and currently I am participating in the Foreign Exchange Program with Susan, Alan and Nancy Jo, as the Outbound Coordinator.
I look forward to the many more opportunities that we can partner together in towards building strong relationships in our community.