As you will see our Travel Calendar, Susan and Rainbow Homes facilitators have remedied that situation. For the past couple of years, we have offered a few trips a year to places in and out of state, but this year we will be offering 6 Day Trips and 4 Overnight Trips. By of-fering these trips, we are making dreams become reality! This little organization, just as our spring crocus, is blossoming into a program that all can be proud of. For the people who attended our Silent Auction and Dinner in February, I am sure you became aware of what is being accomplished! I am pleased, to announce we were able to profit over $13,000, do to the help of our Planning Committee, IHM Parish for the use of their parish center, IHM and St. Casimir Knights of Columbus for food preparation, Sandra and Don Killian for donation of appetizers and food, Teresa Drevitch and Dawn Foods for our desserts, Randy Flick for our video, Jonathan Evans for our Music, Tim Peltz photography, Susan and the residents for decorations and to all who attended, donated items, won items and enjoyed an evening of continuing that DREAM! Enjoy reading and viewing our stories….. Mark your calendar for 2014 Silent Auction to be held on Saturday, February 8, 2014 at a NEW place, St. Casimir Parish Center. Our program and organi-zation is growing! Come and join us for our 8th Annual Silent Auction and Dinner “Cruising Along with Rain-bow Homes” Easter blessings,

Joann Davis

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Volume 20 Issue 16

Spring—2013 Easter Greetings,

As Spring approaches (not soon enough for me) we are reminded of new life in the budding of the brave crocus as it peeks through the snow, bravely opening up its leaves and flowering with the warmth of the sun. The delicate little plant opening up to the beauty of Spring! Rainbow Homes is like that little crocus, beginning with just a tiny seed of a dream in 1989, the dream of a small group of parents. These parents were asking for something that we all want for our children, to be able to see them grow-up, become independent adults able to live their life and become contributing mem-bers of society. This dream has become a reality for our residents. But our program does not stop with just our residents, we realize there are more adults with disAbilities in the Greater Lansing Area who need our assistance. By offering a Day and Overnight Res-pite Program we have opened up a new option for families. While offering our respite program we became aware of a real need for a wider range of adults to connect with a community through new learning experiences. Rainbow Homes became a Community Living Supports (CLS) provider through Clinton/Eaton/Ingham Community Mental Health. We are reaching out to an even wider group of adults with disAbilities. After listening to these CLS participants and our residents, we heard of their desire to travel. Many had not been out of the State of Michigan. Some of our partici-pants had never dipped their toes into the cold waters of Lake Michigan, or stayed in a cabin, or sat around a campfire eating S’mores.

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R a i n b o w H o m e s “ D r e a m s t o R e a l i t y ”

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Wish List Sturdy Park Like Benches (4)

Twin or Double 18” Tall Air Mattress with Pump Large Food Processor *Lightweight Wheelchair for Trips *Bike/Helmet Racks *GPS *Glue Sticks

*White Craft Glue *Gas Cards *Movie Cards *Wii Game Console (we have controls & games) * Dessert for Evening Meal * Soft Yarn for Hats

Want to help and need more ideas? Visit our website and click on our

“magic wand”.

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.

CLS - Community Living Support Happenings! - Special Thank You

Resident Liaison to RH

Board Jonathan’s March

Report

Good Stuff: I am the Resident

Representative to the Board. I attend the Board meetings each month. I re-port on the good things and the prob-lems. I have to talk to every one to hear what they need. Some of the good things are the trips, Atomic Clock, and our new maintenance man, Russ. The problems are the Mini Van is still acting up, we need different flooring in the Community Room. In the future I would like to see Rainbow Homes get a Handicapped van because more people are coming here that use wheelchairs.

Jonathan

Nashville

Trip

Frankenmuth 60 people enjoyed touring Bronner’s Christmas Wonder-land and purchasing items to decorate for Christmas. Lunch was served at Zender’s with the traditional chicken dinner. The afternoon was spent shopping downtown and stopping at the fudge shop.

Rainbow Homes

Knitting Club

Brandon, Mike M, Allison, Libby, Karen, Arthur, Mark, Debbie, Jack, Rose

and Ryan P. Started a Knitting Club,

donating the hats they are making to hospitals for children with cancer. Club members are not only learning the skills of knitting and color pat-terns but also how to host a social event. Each night we have a host, their job is to make sure we have something to drink like water or tea of hot chocolate and sometimes a light snack and then clean-up.

Gary was awarded Peckham’s Employee of the Month for January. He works two days a week in the cafeteria and one day a week in automotives. He was recognized for

obtaining a 100% on his work performance assessment award and continues to be a role model employee! Great job, Gary!

Very Special Thanks:

Cathy Williams, Rainbow Homes very own Bread Fairy. Cathy has been delivering do-nated bread every Wednesday for the past 2 years.

Jim Shaw, for the use of lift trucks several times this year to pick up furniture and appliances. It was a huge help and saved some of our backs.

Marie Wilson, for donating a large amount of art supplies including paper, stamps, candle and soap making supplies to name a few. Residents are busy creating!

Allen Shaw, for donating his computer expertise in setting up and refurbishing 2 desktop computers for our office.

Joseph Perrone, for our new Flat Screen TV in the community room!

Page 2

Residents On The Move!

Rainbow Homes

Annual Picnic

Sunday, July 28, 2013

“On Rainbow’s Pond”

At Rainbow Homes

1:00—3:00 PM

RSVP is required.

Call 517-699-8454

Meat and Drinks

will be supplied

Call RH to sign up to

bring a dish to pass.

CLS - We have been so active this winter, even though it is cold, that doesn’t stop us from moving! We have been enjoying going on a lot of outings to fun places like Cabellas and Silver Bells Christmas Store in Dundee, the Chelsea Teddy Bear Factory and the Abrams Planetarium at MSU. Everyone has a great time exploring some of Michigan’s indoor offerings. Our mall walking keeps us active in a warm environment and we have been enjoying going to the mov-ies at the movie theater! As always, we love our bowling and volunteering at The Greater Lansing Food Bank every week.

In the coming month we will take a trip to the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids as well as go on a tour of a metal stamping business in Oak Park. We also hope that March brings us warm weather and with that a trip to the Tanger Outlet Mall in Howell.

We can’t wait for the warm weather to come this spring; we miss our walks at Hawk Island and fishing! Emma, RH CLS Program Facilitator

Special Welcome to: Russ Martin our New Handyperson Extraordinaire! Russ has been working at Rainbow Homes two days a week for almost a year now as an independent contractor. Russ is working on our buildings replacing and fixing where needed. This spring we are looking at replacing some windows and doors that are far from energy efficient.

Rainbow Homes “Travel Club”

Day Trips

April 19th Sauder Village and Spangler Candy Company

April 28th Gilmore Car Museum and Air Zoo

May 9th Tulip Festival in Holland Michigan

July 14th Tiger vs. Texas Rangers Baseball Game

Aug. 6th Shipshewana

Nov 8th Women’s Shopping Trip to RiverTown Crossing Mall

Overnight Trips

May 19-25 Memphis Tennessee including Graceland

June 9-11 Sleeping Bear Dunes

Sept 13-15 East Coast Lighthouse Tour Oct 20-26 Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg Tennessee

I have experienced true friendship of the residents at Rainbow Homes through traveling with this group. Residents care and look out for each other.

It has been my pleasure to have joined these travelers on several trips and hope to go on many more trips in the future. Keep up the good work Rainbow Homes! “Memphis Here I Come!”

Bea McComb

Available on Website:

“Trips At A Glance” Calendar with

Deadlines and Pricing

2013 Travel Club Booklet

Emergency/Medical Form

Optional Travelers Insurance

Travelers Etiquette

As a parent of a resident and a traveler with Rainbow Homes Travel Club, I would like to say “Thank you” to Susan and all the staff for all the extra work and planning that goes into making all the trips so memorable and exciting for the residents and guests.

This new experiences allows residents to go places and see things that they were only able to dream about before. Now because of Rainbow Homes staff residents see their dreams become a reality. “Dreams Really Do Come True!”

When the trip is underway, nothing is going to stop these adventurous travelers from having a great time; no not even flat tires, rain, cold or heat. These travelers have got what it takes to be world adventurers. The bus ride is full of laughter, singing, television, playing games, talking, eating and maybe a short nap.

2013 “Over the Rainbow” Silent Auction & Dinner

Have a wonderful

Easy safe secure

way to donate

online!

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

“Designation Card” Use #1751 Rainbow Homes, Holt, Michigan

Dates & Special Recognition

Are you a baker and would like to

bake desserts for Rainbow Homes

Residents for their evening meal?

We are looking for a

few good bakers to

volunteer once a

month to bake

something for the 31

residents evening

meal. Give Susan or Danielle a

call if you are interested in sharing

your baking talents!

We are grateful to the Knights of Columbus Area Councils for their on-going support of Rainbow Homes

through the annual “MR Drive” on Palm Sunday weekend.

Yard & Bake Sale

Date: June 27- 29

Proceeds go to-wards Scholar-ships for our Trip Program. Donations are needed of clean useable items. Items can be dropped off at Rain-bow Homes. Please call first.

Volunteers are needed all day Wednes-day to set-up. Cashiers are needed for 4 hours shifts on 27th to 29th. Tables and Tents are also needed for the sale.

New this year Bake Sale. If you love to Bake please consider helping us out with a donation of your culinary delight!

2013 Rainbow Homes Membership

If you have not already become a

2013 Member of Rainbow Homes,

please consider joining this great

organization that is making a

difference in the lives of adults

with cognitive disAbilities. Visit

our website for details.

www.rainbow-homes.org