Heartland Spreads Christmas Cheer

To help spread Christmas cheer, Heartland Independent Living Center (HILC) staff selected six consumers to receive a gift basket for the holidays. The cartful of goodies included a turkey and all the fixings for Christmas dinner, plus supplies to store the leftovers and put the house back in order after the holiday festivities.

HILC staff filled six shopping carts with food and household items, packed each of the baskets, and delivered the Christmas gifts to consumers in Belle, Bland, Linn, Owensville, St. Clair, and Vienna.

Upon seeing the consumers’ reactions to the gifts, Heartland staff members experienced the true meaning of the old phrase, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.”

All of us at Heartland Independent Living Center wish all our consumers a wonderful holiday - - and a prosperous new year filled with hope. 

Heartland staff filled six shopping carts with food and household items.

Heartland's Valerie Thomas visits with Bob and Melanie Garris in Owensville.

Belle octogenarian Nettie Doss and her aide Linda Plummer (right) enjoy a visit from Heartland's Maggie Brooks.

Heartland's Maggie Brooks delivers Christmas cheer to Ray Vermillion and his loyal companion, Lady, in Vienna.

Scholarships Awarded to Two Heartland Sponsored Students

Two of the three $1,000 scholarships recently awarded by the Missouri Statewide Independent Living Council in Jefferson City (MOSILC) were awarded to students 

sponsored by Heartland Independent Living Center (HILC).   The scholarship was open to any high school senior or college student with a certified disability.

Eighteen applications were received from throughout Missouri.  Three students were chosen to receive the scholarship to be used at the Missouri school of their choice.

St. Francis Borgia 2013 graduate Ian Yenzer was one of the $1,000 scholarship recipients.  He is currently attending Maryville University majoring in Psychology with an emphasis on rehabilitation counseling.

Fatima High School senior Megan Wieberg of Westphalia also received a $1,000 scholarship.  Among other extracurricular activities, Megan is the historian of the school’s National Honor Society.  She has not yet chosen a college. 

“It gives me great pleasure that Heartland Independent Living Center was able to sponsor two of the three statewide scholars selected for the MOSILC scholarships,” stated HILC Executive Director Pat Chambers.  “We are delighted to lend these students a helping hand in their pursuit of higher education.” 

The independent living philosophy supports the rights of individuals with disabilities to have the same opportunities as those without disabilities; the right of choice, control, freedom, and equality.  Centers for Independent Living offer services to assist individuals with disabilities to make decisions about their own life, achieve or maintain independence, and participate in their community.

One of the 22 nonprofit centers in Missouri, Heartland Independent Living Center (HILC) provides services to individuals with disabilities in east central Missouri.  Among the free services HILC provides are advocacy, information and referral, independent living skills training, ramps and home modifications, nursing home transition, adaptive medical equipment, and dental services.  HILC holds the Better Business Bureau Charity Seal.

For more information on available services, contact HILC toll-free at 866-322-3224, or visit their website at www.heartlandilc.org.