The non-profit provides services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
FREDERICK, MD. (LG) Community Living, a non-profit organization in Frederick, is continuing its effort to provide support and services to empower adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The agency has 4 core departments, according to Elaina Clarke, fundraising and Marketing Director. “We have 26 residential group homes here in Frederick. We have vocational, so we offer job coaching and placement. We have support services, and that is support of daily living for people who do not live at our homes, and we have a retirement program for people who are unable or can’t work anymore due to age,” she continued.
The 26 homes are spread throughout Frederick. “A big thing that we are trying to push for is education and awareness about inclusion, because a lot of people find it hard to believe that there are houses just like other houses, and that’s the whole point of inclusion, because people with inclusion are literally just like you and me,” continued Clarke.
All CLI residents work a regular job, attend day programs, or are retired and involved in the agency’s Retirement Our Way (ROW) day program. On their website it states that Community Living carries out its name in that every individual participates as fully in their community as abilities allow. This means these people are on the go! With staff help as needed, they do their own shopping, go to public events, walk in the park, attend worship, cheer on their favorite teams, and get involved in so much more! They enjoy life’s simple treats such as going out to dinner, the movies, getting a haircut, and playing bingo at a local senior center.
“Donations are so important. The most shocking number that I can tell you is that we spend over $210,000 in groceries each year, and we do about 3,000 doctors appointments that we service to our people each year.”
Last year the organizations started a monthly expo called ‘Whats Up Community’. “Its the first Tuesday of every month. We’ve partnered-up with businesses and non-profits to offer this networking event, where it is completely free and we offer dinner, so you can meet people in the business world and non profit world, to figure out how you can help,” added Clarke. Presentations are held from 5:00 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.
Participating o
rganizations are: CLI, Daybreak Adult Day Services, The Frederick Center, Asian American Center of Frederick, Girls on the Run — Frederick, The Religious Coalition, Interfaith Housing Alliance, The Prosperity Center, United Way of Frederick County, TransIT Services of Frederick County, HealthCare Access Maryland, The Barker Adoption Foundation, Friends of L’Arche Frederick, MD Inc. Hospice of Frederick County, the Delaplaine Arts Center, and Maryland Relay.
If you’re interested in joining as a business or nonprofit, or if you’d like more information about the event itself, contact Elaina Clarke at 301-663-8811 or elainac@communitylivinginc
-Loretta Gaines