this summer. You will read articles on the residents and the “Healthy Life Style” progress, a new Kiwanis Club that resident’s will be involved with a residents representative that will report to our board, volunteers from LCC and success of our picnic to name just of few.

As always we thank you for your con-tinued support of Rainbow Homes. We would not able to offer the programs and services that we offer without your help! You are an impor-tant part of this organiza-tion!

If you are still “on the fence”, thinking about helping out in some way please con-sider becoming a member for $30.00 a year.

Special thank you to Mort and Ruth Tatara for their donation of their 50/50 winnings at our annual picnic.

Thank you to all who signed up to vol-unteer in some capacity at Rainbow

If your organization or busi-ness participates in the United Way Campaign you can designate your donation to go to Rainbow Homes. All you have to do is specify Rainbow Homes by writing #1751 Rainbow Homes, Holt on your donation card.

Thank you for considering helping with designating Rainbow Homes to receive either a portion or your whole

donation.

It’s a wonderful feeling to know the organization that you are donating to and that your donation will be put to good use. You might want to

make your co-workers aware of our organization and how to donate.

We have received donations in the past from United Ways in Westphalia, Lansing, E. Lansing, Jackson, Metro Chicago and Allegan Counties.

Is it Time for the United Way in your Area?

Our Mission

To provide ecumenical Christian housing and services

for adults with cognitive disAbilities, where they can grow personally and spiritually to reach their God given

potential. The residents will be nurtured in a homelike

Christian setting.

Respite Program & Healthy Live Styles 2

Volunteers Thank you 3

Picnic Success 3

Kiwanis—Silent Auction 4

Window & Tree Help—Susan’s 2 cents—Q106 5

Thank You for Donations 6

Susan’s 2 cent’s cont’d, Resident rep. & Copies 7

Inside this issue:

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Volume 9 Issue 5

FALL 2008

Friends of Rainbow Homes,

As the fall season approaches it brings a sense of reevaluation and letting go. The leaves changing color and falling makes me think of (besides a lot of work raking!) the changes in life. Life at Rainbow Homes has changed for the better this past season. These changes would include:

• Completion of Community Room & to have it paid in full!

• Being full to capacity with 20 resi-dents.

• Employing 4 full time staff and 4 part time staff.

• Respite Program up and running.

• 2008 Membership over 126 mem-bers

• Development of brochure and DVD

To name just a few changes. Through- out this newsletter you will find informa-tion on what is happening at Rainbow Homes. Residents have been on the go

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Homes, Holt , MI

Respite Care Our Respite Care program is in full swing. Our calendar is filling up! If you are considering this option for your son/daughter give Susan a call and set up a “walk through.” To get the proc-ess started please visit our website and under “Potential Residents” fill out our “Intake Form”.

Unlike child care, respite services may sometimes involve overnight care for a period of time. Overnight Respite can be for a weekend or up to two weeks. Longer terms can be approved on a case by case basis.

What’s in it for the Family Member?

• Relaxation. Respite gives families peace of mind, helps them relax,

and renews their humor and their energy

• Enjoyment. Respite allows families to enjoy favorite pas-times and pursue new activities

• Stability. Respite improves the families ability to cope with daily responsibilities and maintain stability during crisis

• Enrichment. Respite makes it possible for family members to establish individual identities and enrich their own growth and development

• Being in another setting

• Socializing with other people

• Talking with someone else for a change

Fee for Overnight Respite is $50.00 per night and includes the above services. We are not able to accommodate intensive personal care or severe behavioral problems at this time. Meal supplements, medication and personal care prod-ucts are provided by the individual or family.

Fee for Day Respite is $25.00 per day. Respite Brochure available on our Website.

Contact Susan at 517-699-8454

boats, relay races with a purpose, long walks, aerobic tapes, bands, pilate balls, weighted balls, and ap-propriate stretching. The class was asked to just try the activity even if it was difficult due to their physical limitations. Once a week the par-ticipants were weighed and based on the instructors observation one student that demonstrated the most effort was given a trophy enti-tled the “Way to Go” award. The last month of the class the award was given to the participant that documented the most exercise and/ or the most weight lost. The winner carried the ‘Way to Go” award and was taken to a local coffee shop for a healthy bever-age. The class culminated with making a video tape of the class completing a 45 minute work out and participating in a 5K walk in the community.

A final assessment will be completed to establish any

Healthy Lifestyle Program will be wrap-ping up by the end of September for our 12 residents.

Cindy writes:

The goal of the Healthy Lifestyles project is to empower the partici-pants to take care of their own health through good nutrition, exer-cise, self esteem and knowledge of disease prevention. Each participant was assessed in physical ability and knowledge of health using a form adapted from the University of Illi-nois Chicago program. The class topics have spanned from What is health, how to get ready for exer-cise, rights and responsibilities, hy-dration needs, clothing to wear dur-ing exercise, working out in the community, nutrient needs for health, healthy snacks, conflict resolution, safety and much more. Every class offered a discussion topic and then the participants were engaged in some type of exercise like yoga, walking, using weights or weight machines, riding paddle

changes in knowledge or physical capabilities from the class participa-tion. The class will also participate in a final party for the class involv-ing distribution of certificates of participation and a healthy brunch. Residents will be in the “Capital City River Run” 5K on September 28th.

Residents would like to Thank CMH dietitians Cindy Rable, Laura Bylancik-Lince, Nichole LaRiviera-Martinson, MSU Dietitian and Kine-siology students as well as a CMU Dietitian student.

Page 2

Respite Care Program offered at Rainbow Homes

“ Way to Go with the Healthy Lifestyles Class” By: Cindy Rable

you, Julie Wetzel, Karen Schaefer, Judy MacInness & Marylin Ebaugh.

Birthday Party Transpor-tation Volunteer. Thank you, Jamie Wetzel and Ronda Allen.

Moving Com-mittee volun-teering to lend a hand or a

truck. Thank you, Ronda Allen and Julie Allen.

Maintenance Committee Volunteer. Thank you, Wilford Johnson and Jimmy & Dolores Ireland.

Silent Auction Committee volunteer. Thank you Karla Janing.

If you haven’t already, you will be hearing from our

staff at RH soon!

You are a blessing!

If anyone would like to add your names to any of these lists please give us a call!

The “Volunteer Tent” was the hot place to be! Thank you to all who vol-unteered to assist at Rainbow Homes in the following ways:

Leisure Time Activities volunteering for 2/3 hours at a time. Thank you, Karen Schaefer & Debbie Roberts

Spring/Fall Cleaning Com-mittee volunteering for 2/3 hours. Thank you, Karen

Schaefer, Debbie Roberts & Jim MacInness.

Dessert of the Month Club volunteering to bring a

homemade dessert. Thank

“What a wonderful way of hands on service to our RH Community”.

VOLUME 9 ISSUE 5

3rd recipient, Joe Perrone for his dedication to Rainbow Homes by being our Treasurer of the RH Board.

50/50 Raffle was held. Thanks to our ticket sellers Tom and Lou we were able to make $182.00. Special thank you to Mort and Ruth Tatara for donat-ing back their $182.00 winnings back to Rainbow Homes.

August 10th Rainbow Homes Celebrated with our Annual Picnic. The theme was chosen by the residents, “Flower Power.” Over 150 people attended. Family, friends, organizations, businesses, advo-cates, staff and board members joined our 20 residents celebrating the past year’s accomplishments. We would like to thank Dave and Lou Bond for supply-ing us with 60’s guitar music for the event. Residents, staff and board mem-bers were on hand to assist in tours of our buildings including our newly reno-vated community and respite rooms and upon request our residents apartments.

Each year we honor people who gave of themselves. This year’s award recipients were:

1st recipient Jean Smith for being our project manger on our Community Room Project. Thank you Jean we could not have done this without you!

2nd recipient, Hal &Jeanne Angevine and Alexis Green, for sharing their cot-tage for a week each year with our resi-dents. Hal and Jeanne we appreciate all you have done to make our residents feel part of your family.

A wonderful day was had by all. Good food, good weather, good company!

Thank you to all you attended!

If you didn’t get a chance to come and would like a tour of our facility please, call Susan or Danielle at 517-699-8454. They would be happy to arrange a tour.

Page 3

Thank you to Volunteers!

2008 Summer Picnic Success “Flower Power”

Help us make this fundraiser a success by: Donations of items for the Silent Auction can be made at anytime. Either drop them off at Rainbow Homes or give us a call and we will pick your item up.

Selling Tickets: If you would like to help us sell-ing tickets please give us a call.

Supplying us with names of people or business that might be interested in attending or donating and item.

Event and Donation form available on our web-site. If you wish to help us secure an item from a friend, business or organization please use these forms. www.rainbow-homes.org

RAINBOW HOMES INVITES YOU TO OUR

10TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY ANNUAL SILENT AUCTION & DINNER

“CRUISIN ALONG” Date: Saturday, February 7, 2009

Time: Silent Auction from 6:00—8:00pm

Dinner 7:30

Place: Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Center

3815 South Cedar Street, Lansing

Tickets: $30.00 per person

Call Today to Reserve your tickets: 517-699-8454 or 517-740-0293

Check payable to: Rainbow Homes 2111 Adelpha Ave. Apt. B Holt, MI 48842

Reserve your table today (8 people to a table)

Only 200 seats available, reserve yours soon!

15 residents will be participating in Kiwanis AKTION Club at Rainbow Homes.

The Holt Kiwanis Club offers an opportunity to participate in commu-nity projects while making new friends and forming a community wide network. Holt Kiwanis is part of a worldwide organization of ser-vice clubs. There are almost 300,000 members in 8,000 local clubs in 96 countries.

Many of our residents participate in the Kiwanis Club Bowling League.

On Monday, June 2, Holt Kiwanis hosted the 30th annual bowling banquet for their Special Bowling League. Seventy bowlers and their families attended. Trophies were awarded for season average, high score, high series, and for most

improved performance in average, high score, and high series. The Kiwanis leader of the bowling pro-gram is Honorary Member Jim Johnson. Other Kiwanis members of the committee are Hugh Lock-hart, Bob Montague, Karla Janing, Ron Venner, Laurie McGraw, Bill Sisco, Linda Sisco, and Donna Brower. The Ki-wanis Club of Holt has sponsored the league with money and volun-teer hour every year since 1977.

Members of the Special Bowling League show off their trophies after the banquet.

Page 4

Silent Auction and Dinner February 7, 2009

Division #16 Kiwanis Club of Holt, to Start a New AKTION Club at Rainbow Homes

VOLUME 9 ISSUE 5

train to Chicago. Kevin 2 and Jessica toured Mackinaw Island. Michael, Chad, Troy, Lynn, Debbie and Mary Ellen visited the UP some seeing the Mackinaw Bridge for the first time. Dan, Kevin1, Kamerin, Ann and Mary Ellen visited the Angevine Cottage at Big Platt Lake. Labor Day Weekend most of the residents went to Rock Lake for Family weekend. Amy and Kathy will round up the trips with a visit to Houghton Lake for a movie and card making trip. (cont’d on page 7)

As winter is approaching we are looking at replacing our 2 large win-dows in the community room. One of the windows has lost it’s seal and both are old windows that are not very energy efficient. Because of cost we did not replace these win-dows when we did our renovations.

These 2 windows need to be slide by windows. Windows measure H 58 1/2” by W 70 1/4”

If anyone has any ideas please give us a call.

Our favorite Tree was struck by lightning and has died. The tree is located right off the entrance to our community room.

If you know anyone who would down the tree for the wood please, give us a call. We would like to have this tree taken care of before winter.

We would love to replace it with another shade tree.

chosen as the non-profit for Au-gust. The guitar was auto-graphed by “Seether and Finger Eleven” Band at Common Ground in July. We received $250.00.

Thank you to Q106FM & Danielle!

Rainbow Homes would like to thank Danielle, one of our staff, for nominating Rainbow Homes to receive donations from Q106FM “Cords for a Cause.” Each month Q106 auctions off an autographed guitar with all proceeds benefitting a local non-profit. Rainbow Homes was

Page 5

Susan’s Two Cents

Looking for Window & Tree Help!

Q106FM “Chords for a Cause” - August donation

Two TV for the respite rooms Two DVD Players for respite rooms Baking Dishes 9”x13” or larger Lawn Chairs - heavy duty Picnic Tables - folding Tree – Large (replacing one struck by lightening) Yarn for crafts Benches for the side yard Pilates balls 60 or 70 meter Therapy bands Rubber mats for the kitchen Under the bed storage with wheels Stethoscope Task lighting for the office Small table lamp for Safari room Gas Cards Door mats for winter DVD’s for the Family

It is almost a relief that Fall is here as it has been such a busy sum-mer. To support the residents PCP (Person Center Planning) everyone chose a vacation to go on this summer? Gary and Steve took the

Kristen A. Taylor * Sr. Marlene Taylor, AD Carolyn Texera * + Marsha Todd Karen Wininger * Nathan & Julie Zahler * + Robert Zahon Thank you to: Tri-County Electric People Fund Grant Knights of Columbus Resurrection, KC Msgr. John A Gabriel Council #11099, Lansing St. John, KofC Council #328, St. John Richard KofC Council #788, Lansing St. James, KofC Council #9182, Mason St. Martha KofC Council # 10006, Okemos St. Mary Star of Sea KofC Council # 9301, Jackson St. Mary KofC Council #11875, Charlotte * = 2008 Membership

M = Memorial

= All other donations

Ronda Allen * Richard & Jeanne Angevine * + 50/50 Raffle donations Kristen & Robert Bell Betty Beranek Tom & Patricia Beranek Patrick & Lorie Biggs Brenda & Frank Creemers * Joann Davis M + James & Jo-Ann Doederlein Virginia Doneth Marylin Ebaugh Frank & Susan Emerick Marcia Evans James Y Lisa Fitzsimmons Pamela A. Green Susan & Carl Howell * Jackson Area Catholic Special Religious Education Wil & Mary Johnson * Joe & Mary Lou Kratofil M Jim & Sandy Malewitz M Ann MacDonald M Chris & Stephanie Marin * Fr. Thomas McDevitt * + Joseph Perrone Joan Raglin Jacki & Karl Roehm * Marvin & Lorraine Rogge James & A. Joanne Sivyer * Margaret Sullivan Morton & Ruth Tatara 50/50 winnings Michael Allyn Taylor

Page 6

Donations from June—September 08

Thank you to our friends from Jackson Area Catholic Special Religious Education Program for a wonderful day at the Lansing Lugnuts Ballpark.

Thank you to the Lansing Symphony Orchestra for donating complementary tickets to each of the Lansing Symphony Orchestra’s MasterWorks con-certs for the upcoming 2008/09 Season. We re-ceived 10 tickets resulting in a donation of $1,320.

Our residents enjoy look forward to the Symphony each year and are thrilled with the donation of Season tickets.

Thank you Timothy Muffit and Catherine Guarino for this generous donation.

VOLUME 9 ISSUE 5

Mike will be meeting with residents twice a month. He will then take resident concerns and ideas to the board every other month.

Mike read his first report to the board on September 17th. Residents have a “suggestion box” placed in the com-munity room and Mike asked that residents write up any ideas that they may have to make Rainbow Homes a better place to live. Mike emphasized that, “we are a family and families

help out each other. We will be talking about future vacations, activi-ties and how we can help out in the community room.”

A fundraising opportunity and it’s good for the environment too!

We have a box for collecting empty ink and laser toner car-tridges for Cartridge World of Okemos. Empty cartridges will be returned to Cartridge World for fundraising.

Thanks, Danielle for the idea! If you are like me you go through too many cartridges!

The garden was bursting at the seams this year. Our compost pile was so fertile that it grew is own tomatoes, melon and pumpkin. We just finished making pesto for the freezer. Pea pods, tomatoes, and green peppers are just finishing up. The residents this year made refrigerator pickles with all the cucum-bers.

We were blessed with fresh veggies from Bea McComb

and Marylin Fitzsimmons. We all shucked corn and Gary has be-come an excellent bean snapper. We were even able to freeze some of the corn for later.

Residents worked in the flower garden, exercised, and hung out with friends. Eve-ryone worked on crafts and prepared for the Family picnic.

In the community we played softball, went to concerts in the park, pic-nicked, visited car shows, went to the zoo,

participated in the Mayor’s walk, visited the Lug Nuts many times, danced at the Pow Wow, swam, paddle boated and walked at Hawk Island to name a few.

Please think of us for your copy

needs. Either business or per-sonal. Give Susan or Danielle

a call for more information.

Did you know? This newsletter is printed, folded, sealed and labeled by our residents.

Page 7

Rainbow Homes Collecting Empty

Inside Story Headline

Rainbow Homes Resident Micro Enterprise Copy Service

Additional Two Cents from Susan (cont’d from pg 5)

BLACK/WHITE COP-IES – 18/20lb.

8.5 x 11 - per side .04 each

11 x 17 - per side .07 each

COLOR COPIES 28lb. 8.5 x 11 - per side - 1-100

.32 each

101 - 1000 .25 each

1001 and more .20 each

11 x 17 - per side 1-100

.64 each

101 - 1000 .50 each

1001 and more .40 each

Resident, Mike Perry joins Rainbow Homes Board as Resident Liaison

Pesto!

Basil anyone?

Donations can be made by:

• Becoming a 2008 Member with your gift of $30.00 a year.

• Donations toward becoming more energy efficient with pur-chase of new windows and doors.

• Donate an item to our Silent Auction. Items can be dropped off at Rainbow Homes anytime.

• Plan to attend our Silent Auction and Dinner. Bring a friend or family and reserve a table.

• Donate a portion of your United Way monies.

• Donations toward future trips and activities for residents.

• Donation to our operating budget.

I don’t have to tell you that these are lean times. We are in the process of building up our operating donations to keep this great program going. With the cost of everything from food to the cost of gas rising we have to rely on church groups, service organizations and people like YOU, to keep us in the black!

If you have donated to Rainbow Homes in the past, we thank you for your generosity! If you are receiving this newsletter you have expressed an interest in our organization.

I would ask that you consider help-ing this program that has been assist-ing adults with cognitive disAbilities for over 9 years by making a monetary donation.

Easy way to donate online!

• Donations can be made easily and safely by going to our web-site at: www.rainbow-homes.org and clicking on PayPal button. You don’t have to have a PayPal account to make a donation. PayPal will accept any credit card in a secure environment.

WE NEED YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE

PAID HOLT MI

PERMIT NO. 2 Phone: (517) 699-8454 E-mail: rainbowhomes@sbcglobal.net Web: www.rainbow-homes.org

Use #1751 Rainbow Homes, Holt for United Way Donations.

Save us postage by sending us your e-mail

address and we will e-mail your future

newsletters.