News
Local nonprofit employee donations make dream come true
By [unknown placeholder $article.art_field1$]
Dec 30, 2008 - 3:27 PM

For Individual with Developmental Disability in Waterford

Photo of Meyer (left) aboard Mijoy 747

With the aid of Mosaic’s Wishes and Dreams Fund, a fund created by Mosaic in Connecticut with money raised by their annual Employee Campaign, Jim Meyer was able to make his dream of deep sea fishing a reality. This past summer he set sail aboard the Mijoy 747, a charter fishing boat out of Waterford, Conn. He instantly became the star of the boat, catching 13 bluefish, totaling almost 33 pounds.

During an Outcomes Interview with Meyer and Kim Turbak, his staff, he said he’d like to go on a cruise.

Outcomes Interviews are part of Mosaic’s Basic Assurances®, a program to ensure that individual’s needs are met and dreams and goals are expressed. Turbak asked Meyer, “What is it about a cruise that you’d enjoy?”

Sometimes Meyer has difficulty verbally expressing himself, so Turbak listed some of the activities a cruise ship would have to offer. Meyer explained he would like to bring his fishing pole and “CATCH A BIG FISH.” Turbak let him know people are not allowed to fish from a cruise ship. When Meyer pulled out his wallet and showed the staff member his fishing license she realized that Meyer wasn’t dreaming of a Caribbean cruise, he wanted to go deep sea fishing!

Meyer loves to travel to new places. He has traveled to Florida to visit Disney World. He has also visited Pennsylvania and New York City. Meyer regularly frequents places though out New England and enjoys a yearly vacation at Camp Harkness, a handicap accessible camp for physically or intellectually disabled individuals in Waterford, Conn.

Meyer is 49 years old. He has received services from Mosaic in Conn. for 28 years and has lived at a group home since 1991 with three other individuals who receive services from Mosaic.

About Mosaic

Mosaic provides residential, vocational, medical, spiritual, social and advocacy supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and to senior citizens. These services are provided in collaboration with local, state, national, and international partners in 14 states and nine countries. Mosaic is an affiliated social ministry organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a recognized service organization of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, a member of Lutheran Services in America and a founding member of IMPACT, an international alliance. Mosaic is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information visit www.mosaicinfo.org.

© Copyright by StamfordPlus.com





© Copyright by StamfordPlus.com. Some articles and pictures posted on our website, as indicated by their bylines, were submitted as press releases and do not necessarily reflect the position and opinion of StamfordPlus.com, Stamford Plus magazine, Canaiden LLC or any of its associated entities. Articles may have been edited for brevity and grammar.