Surplus Walkers Need to Go

Are you in need of a walker and your health care insurance doesn’t cover it? Or are you a rehab facility or a medical center that could use a few more in their inventory? No worry, Heartland Independent Living Center has a surplus that they are willing to donate to those who need them in the community on a first come first serve basis.

Heartland is grateful that so many have recently been donated for those in need. Usually, Heartland would hold on to them until a need arises; however, with the upcoming renovations on the Heartland building, storage space will be limited.

“We want to make good use of the gifts we’ve been given.” Resource Development Coordinator Tiffany Reid, said. “Rather than place these items in storage, we want to be proactive in getting these items back into the community where they are needed.”

If you’re interested in getting one for yourself, a loved one, to have on hand at your church or civic organization or if you simply need some for your rehab or medical facility please contact Heartland at 573-437-5100.

Lab Comforts Nursing Home Residents

Ray Vermillion has been a paraplegic for 25 years, but he doesn’t let his disability keep him from things he wants to do.  A country boy at heart, Ray lives in a farmhouse not far from the Gasconade River outside of Vienna.  His loyal companion, Lady, is a black lab who showed up on the property and took up residence with him.  Although Ray uses a stripped down wheelchair for indoor mobility and traveling, the rough terrain outside requires a more rugged motorized set of wheels.  “We love it out here in the country,” says Ray.  “Living in town is like being in jail.”

One of the things Ray likes to do is visit his 93-year old grandmother, Beulah, in the nursing home.  Once a month Ray and Lady drive to Meramec Nursing Center in Sullivan where they visit grandma and other residents.  Fellow dog lovers welcome Lady and are glad to have the opportunity to reconnect with “man’s best friend.”  Even Smokey, the resident cat, has come to accept Lady on the premises.  “Residents look forward to Lady’s visits,” states the Center’s Assistant Administrator Donna Barns.  “She’s very gentle and her presence comforts our residents.”

Ray Vermillion and his black lab, Lady, visit his 93-year old grandmother at Meramec Nursing Center in Sullivan.  During Ray’s monthly visit, Lady makes her regular rounds visiting other residents as well.  

INVITATION FOR BIDS

Sealed bids for the Heartland Independent Living Center (HILC) Project will be received by HILC,1010 Hwy 28 West, Owensville, MO 65066, until 1:00 PM CST, on Thursday, September 04, 2014 and then be publicly opened and read aloud. The Scope of Work includes renovation of a 14,500 SF office. It includes demolition, new standing seam metal roofing, exterior wall panels, front façade, HVAC units, electric, and other incidental items and work described in the Project Manual, or reasonably inferable therefrom. Sitework includes new water line, parking lot sealing and striping.

Phase One bid package will be bid as part of CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) project # 2013-PF-04. Phase Two bid package is not being bid at this time.

Bid packages will be available after 1:00 PM on August 14th and may be obtained from the office of Cochran located at 530A East Independence Drive, Union, MO 63084, upon payment of a non-refundable fee of $100.00 for a hardcopy set and/or $25.00 for an electronic disk. Please call prior to picking up (636-584-0540). Plans will also be available for viewing at Dodge Plan Room and Reed Plan Room.

A mandatory prebid meeting for general contractors (subcontractors may attend) will be held on August 21, 2014 at 10:00 AM, at HILC, 1010 Hwy 28 West, Owensville, MO 65066.

The wage rates applicable to this project have been predetermined as required by law and are set forth in this specification. When Federal wage rates are applicable and included, this contract is subject to the “Work Hours Act of 1962,” (P.L. 87-581: 76 Stat. 357) and implementing regulations. Attention of bidders is particularly called to the requirements as to conditions of employment to be observed and minimum wage rate, to be paid under contract, Section 3, Segregated Facility, Section 109, and E.0. 11246.

Effective January 1, 2009, and pursuant to RSMo 285.530 (1), No business entity or employer shall knowingly employ, hire for employment, or continue to employ an unauthorized alien to perform work within the state of Missouri. The successful bidder must submit a sworn affidavit and documentation affirming the business entity's enrollment and participation in the federal work authorization program and that all of its employees working for the contracted services are not illegal immigrants.

Upon signing the contract, the successful contractor and any subcontractor performing the work shall provide a ten-hour Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) construction safety program for their on-site employees.

Companies owned and/or operated by individuals with disabilities are encouraged to bid on this project. HILC hereby notifies all bidders that it will ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, these companies and all other companies will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

No bidder may withdraw his bid within 60 days after the actual date of the opening thereof.

THE OWNER INTENDS TO AWARD THE CONTRACT TO THE MOST RESPONSIVE, RESPONSIBLE BIDDER SUBMITTING THE LOWEST BID. THE OWNER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY AND ALL BIDS, AND TO WAIVE ANY IRREGULARITIES IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE OWNER.

Heartland’s Back to School Fair Helps Maries County Students

Smiling faces and general tones of happiness filled the room as Heartland Independent Living Center (HILC) hosted two Back to School Fairs supporting the students and families of the Maries County R-1 and R-2 school districts. Children and parents went from booth to booth gathering essential supplies for the upcoming school year.

Over the past two weeks HILC has worked diligently to support families struggling to buy school supplies. The first fair was held at Vienna’s Knights of Columbus Hall on July 18 and the second was held at the Bland Christian Church on July 25.  A total of 272 children received new backpacks, Crayola products and much more. In addition, approximately 20 vendors provided resource information and additional supplies.

“Buying all this stuff would put us deep into debt,” Ginger Moreland, mother of two, said at the Vienna Fair. “Saving us a lot of money is a blessing in itself.”

Constance Smith, the counselor at Belle Elementary, came to the event in Bland and expressed how much Heartland’s efforts were helping her and the school district this year.

“What’s so great about this is the kids so enjoy coming in the first day with their own supplies,” Smith said. “If they get them from me it could take up to a week. It’s just really nice if they can fit in with everyone. I think the highlight was the kids got to pick the backpack color. It was like shopping.”

By the end, most children were complaining of the weight of the bag, as their parents smiled and expressed their gratitude to staff and volunteers.

“We are extremely pleased with the results of our first-ever Back to School Fairs!” Executive Director Pat Chambers said. “Almost 300 Maries County students took advantage of the fairs in Vienna and Bland. Our successful events would not have been possible without the tremendous work of the Heartland staff and the cooperation and support of a number of outstanding community partners!”

Heartland will continue working with Maries County R-1 and R-2 districts to provide supplies to children who are in need but were unable to attend. 

Heartland Elects New Board Officers

The Board of Directors poses outside of Heartland on July 21, 2014. Pictured: Mark Hulsey, right, Jim Brinkmann, Denny Huff, Deborah Moore and Dee Ann Fuller, left. Not Pictured: Vera Williams

Heartland Independent Living Center elected new officers for their Board of Directors.

The board consists of six members. Mark Hulsey was re-elected to fill the position of President, Dee Ann Fuller re-elected to Vice President, Deborah Moore elected to Secretary and the three remaining board members are Vera Williams, Denny Huff and James Brinkmann.

Federal rules require that at least 51 percent of the employees of a Center for Independent Living consist of individuals with disabilities.  That same requirement applies to the Center’s Board of Director’s. Five of the six current Heartland board members are individuals with significant disabilities.

“Heartland is extremely fortunate to have the commitment and stability our board has given to our organization. The organization’s accomplishments over the past five years have been achieved thanks to their support and encouragement,” said Executive Director Pat Chambers.

The Board of Directors meets once a month.

Heartland Independent Living Center is a nonprofit, community based organization that serves individuals with disabilities in their quest to remain independent in their own homes.  Services include in-home assistance, home modifications and ramps, adaptive equipment, transition assistance from institution to home, and dental services.  Heartland meets accountability standards and holds the Better Business Bureau Charity Seal of Approval. For additional information on their services contact Heartland at 573-437-5100, or visit their website at www.heartlandilc.org. Follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/heartlandilcenter.   

Heartland Receives Backing for Backpacks

While area school children have been enjoying a little down time and beating the heat of summer, the staff at Heartland Independent Living Center has been busy working on details of upcoming Back to School Fairs for the students of both Maries County school districts. 

“There has been outstanding response to this project.  We’ve seen so much generosity, from donations for supplies to area residents wanting to volunteer at the events,” said Tiffany Reid, Heartland’s Resource Development Coordinator.

TAP-T Phone Reconnects Dad & Daughter

Thanks to a hearing amplified telephone from Missouri Assistive Technology, Warren Venable is now able to have two-way phone conversations.  Using his new TAP-T phone to call his daughter in St. Louis, he says it’s the first time in his life he has been able to have a phone conversation with her. “We had a 30-minute conversation,” says Warren, “and it was wonderful hearing her voice.”  Warren’s wife, Sharon, said he was as excited as a kid at Christmas.

Warren Venable enjoys making birdhouses now that he’s retired.  With his new cordless amplified TAP-T phone for hearing impaired individuals, Warren can still be in phone contact while in his workshop in the barn.

Warren has been hearing impaired since the age of eight when his family home burned and his ears were scarred from the fire.  His hearing further degenerated from years of loud machinery in the candy factory where he worked.

After years of wearing hearing aids, Warren’s new insurance agency sent him to a different hearing specialist.  His audiologist informed him of the hearing amplified telephones available under the Telecommunications Access Program for Telephones (TAP-T.)   He was referred to Heartland Independent Living Center, a certified TAP-T provider, who assessed him as unable to use traditional telecommunications equipment due to disability.

Warren Venable displays one of the many styles of birdhouses and feeders he makes.  

Within a few weeks, Heartland Independent Living Specialist certified for the TAP-T program was at the Venable’s home with several styles of amplified phones to try out.  The Clarity XLC-2, a portable amplified cordless phone, worked best for Warren.  With a 200-foot range, he could take it with him to his workshop in the barn where he makes birdhouses.  “I can even hear it ring over the noise of the table saw,” says Warren.

Sharon, who owns a business in St. Clair, says the phone has really given her peace of mind.  She calls him from work to make sure he is OK, but prior to the TAP-T she would just leave a message as Warren couldn’t hear the phone ring.  When Warren saw the message light on, he would call her back and say he was fine, but there was no dialogue between them.  “Now he can hear the phone ring and actually talk to me,” says Sharon.  “It also voices what number is calling - - a verbal caller ID.”  In addition, the phone flashes lights when it rings.  “It lights up like a Christmas tree making it hard to miss,” says Sharon. “I only wish we had known about the TAP-T years ago.” 

Back to School Fair Already?

It’s not just pencils and paper anymore. Do you feel dread every year when you receive your child’s school supply list? School supplies have become a financial hardship for many families. Heartland Independent Living Center has a plan to help.

Each fall, Heartland has seen an increasing number of families struggle to prepare their children for the return to school. With no formal back to school fair in Maries County since Missouri Ozark Community Action’s loss of funding for the event, area families have relied on the assistance of local churches to ease their school supply burdens. Assisting these families has been quite a responsibility.  More than half of the 1,451 children enrolled in Maries County schools receive free or reduced-cost lunch, due to low household incomes. For parents of multiple school age children, the financial strain is greater.

“As a mother of three, living in Maries County, I personally can see the financial impact that back to school time puts on families,” said Maggie Brooks.  “Without some assistance with school supplies, families are forced to send their children to school with little or no supplies. Last year, my children came home and asked if we might be able to help some of the kids in their classes. Our family decided to buy extra supplies for a child whose family was unable to cover the expense. I am excited to help the families in need through Heartland’s Back to School Fair.”

Heartland recognizes that education directly impacts the prosperity of our communities. Their staff has decided to take action, ensuring that these children have the opportunity to succeed. Heartland is hosting two back to school fairs for the students in the Maries County R-1 and R-2 school districts. The event will be providing school supplies, services, and information to each family attending.

Heartland is respectfully requesting the participation of local community members. Sponsors, donors, and vendors are needed. They have begun approaching local businesses, churches, civic organizations, and human service agencies, asking them to partner in helping make the back to school fairs a success. If you would like more information or can help in any way, please contact Tiffany Reid, at treid@heartlandilc.org.

Heartland Independent Living Center is a nonprofit, community based organization that serves individuals with disabilities in their quest to remain independent in their own homes.  Services include in-home assistance, home modifications and ramps, adaptive equipment, transition assistance from institution to home, and dental services.  Heartland meets accountability standards and holds the Better Business Bureau Charity Seal of Approval. For additional information on their services, contact Heartland at 573-437-5100, or visit their website at www.heartlandilc.org. Follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/heartlandilcenter.   

Geek is Chic

It’s very chic to be geek.  Heartland Independent Living Center is bringing “Get Your Geek On” trivia back to the Belle/Bland Community Center.  Heartland invites you to get in touch with your inner “know it all.”  In fact, their staff is hinting that his year’s event will be enough fun to blow the protector right out of your pocket!

Rest assured, you don’t need to be a brain scientist to play.  (Seriously!  The Heartland Fundraising Committee has guaranteed that there will be no questions on how to perform neurosurgery.)  However, you are definitely going to have your knowledge of TV, movies, music and sports put to the test.  In addition to giving your brain a workout, Heartland will be selling concessions.  Plus, they’ll be giving away door prizes and auctioning off lots of items collected from generous donors across the state, like the St. Louis Rams!  All you need to do is bring some friends and get ready for a good time.

Proceeds from Get Your Geek On will benefit Heartland’s Emergency Assistance program.  Nearly all those served by the organization are at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, more than half of which are senior citizens. These individuals have very limited financial resources.  Unfortunately, an unplanned expense such as a vehicle or home repair very quickly results in their inability to meet basic needs for themselves and their families. In response, Heartland developed the Emergency Assistance program to address these unique needs not addressed by other services. As with all other programs, it is designed to aid consumers in meeting essential needs in order to remain independent and living within their own home.  Funds are most often requested for utility or prescription assistance.  Each request is examined on a case-by-case basis by a Heartland Independent Living Specialist and then by administrative personnel. Funded requests are those for items seen as crucial and for which other avenues have been investigated and/or exhausted.

Guardian Alert and Knox-Box Provide Peace of Mind

Ninety-four year old Sophie Valley lives by herself in Sullivan.  She has limited mobility and is not able to complete her daily living tasks on her own.  Her daughter Chris assists her so she can remain at home rather give up living independently.  Chris Brake is her mother’s caregiver through Heartland Independent Living Center’s Consumer Directed Services (CDS) personal care attendant services program. She helps her mom with her meals, daily chores, activities and also transportation. “I’m there every morning to fix breakfast, and every evening for dinner,” says Chris. 

One obstacle posed a threat to Sophie staying alone in her home - - what happens if she is incapacitated in some way and can’t get to the phone to get help?

94-year old Sophie Valley raised 11 children in the 

Sullivan area and is not about to give up her 

independence now.  She lives alone and her daughter 

Chris helps her with meals and activities. “Mom is sharp 

and still has all her wits,” says Chris.  “She will 

remain in her own home for as long as she can.  When 

her independence is removed, so is her will to live.”  

SFD Auxiliary Treasurer Melissa Larrison displays 

a Knox-Box that the department provides free of 

charge to disabled and/or elderly Sullivan residents.  

The locked box contains a key to the consumer’s 

door so that emergency personnel are able to 

enter the residence.  The Auxiliary purchased 43 

Knox-Boxes for consumer use.  “The Sullivan

community supports the fire department,” says 

Melissa, “and we in turn support our community.” 

Pictured with Melissa is Billy Harris, Sullivan Fireman 

and Missouri Baptist Hospital paramedic.

Sophie did indeed fall last winter and couldn’t get up.  “I just laid there and watched the clock,” says Sophie.  “Chris is always here by 6:00 am, so I just told myself I’d be OK until she got here.”  And she was.  Chris says God must have been pushing her along that day as she got there earlier than usual.

Following Sophie’s fall, her Heartland CDS Specialist suggested providing her with a Guardian Alert emergency communications device, which Heartland supplies free of charge to qualified consumers.  Sophie now wears the Alert knowing that if she get in trouble, she can push the button and receive immediate assistance.  And, her daughter will also be notified of the emergency.

Now Sophie faced another potential risk. “Mom has family and friends who visit, but I’ve always told her to keep her doors locked when family members are not there,” states Chris, “but, how does someone get in case of emergency?”

Through local firemen, Chris was informed of the Knox-Box, a locked safety box attached to the front door that can only be accessed by the Fire Department or EMS personnel.  The consumer’s door key is kept in the Knox-Box so an emergency team can enter the home without forced entry.  “This prevents costly repairs to doors or windows,” says Sullivan Fireman and Missouri Baptist Hospital Paramedic Billy Harris.  “But more importantly, it saves life-threatening time in assisting the person.” The box is secure as it is remotely opened through Franklin County Dispatch by a call from the fire truck Captain arriving on the scene.  The box is immediately opened, the call is logged, and the box is remotely relocked once the emergency is over. 

The Sullivan Fire Department (SFD) provides the Knox-Box free of charge to qualified individuals throughout the fire district.  The SFD Auxiliary purchased 43 Knox-Boxes for consumer use with money raised from fund-raising activities.  The only thing the Department asks is that when the box is no longer needed, it be returned for recycling to another consumer.

“I can now go home and sleep at night knowing that Mom is safe,” says Chris.  “Mom and I both have peace of mind knowing that help is on the way whenever she needs it.  We thank both Heartland and the Fire Department for that.”