July 2015 – Quota GR

Advisory Council news July 28, 2015

News about the Advisory Council

On July 28^th, the Advisory Council met. Several members could not attend, however, I thought you’d like to know that we now have the following people on the Council:

Jeannette Johnson, DHHS
Pam Howland, Quota
Kathy Freeman, Quota
Nancy Cluley, DHHS
Trish Lopucki, Northview
Mary Kay Kolber, GROD
Todd Sprunger, MRS (Kent County)
Brenda Jones, Hope Network
Deb Atwood, DHHS
Hannah Cluley, student
Marcia Patrick, Senior Neighbors
Kirsten Kramer, Director of Audiology at Spectrum
Cathy Cronick, MRS (Ottawa County, by email)
Someone to be selected by Area Agency on Aging

At our recent meeting, we discussed the lack of reading and writing skills of the deaf and employability issues that restrict employment in the community. Both of these issues were expressed by Todd Sprunger and Brenda Jones, both of whom deal with the deaf on a daily basis. Todd and Brenda attended along with Deb Atwood, Jeannette Johnson and Nancy Cluley along with myself.

President’s Message July 28, 2015

What a great summer it’s turned out to be! I hope you are all enjoying it.

Last week, I volunteered at KidSign Kamp sponsored by DHHS. Forty-one children attended from 3 to 14 years of age. They were a very, very busy crowd!! Monday MSU Cooperative Extension showed them the importance of healthy eating and how to grow their own vegetables. They each got to make their own salsa and left with some, too. On Tuesday, we visited Karin’s Horse Connection in Caledonia. What a great place!! The kids each got to ride and groom horses, learned how to do some tricks on them and played some cool games. The faces and smiles were as big as the horses themselves!! Wednesday was Hero Day. Police, firefighters and ambulance personnel visited and showed us their equipment and the importance of safety. Oh, to ride in a cop car with the sirens blaring….nothing better for any of the kids!! Thursday we went to Star Theatre and toured the projection room and watched the movie “Ant-Man”. The movie was the first captioned film offered in GR, with popcorn, too. Friday we were entertained by a cool Clown at Jester’s Court, a bouncy playground, and signed our song for the week, “Roar” by Katy Perry.

Kids Kamp 12

The kids were fabulous!! Each day we learned some new sign language and some even signed sentences.

This experience reminds me of the wonderful work we do to support the children who love life so intensely. One mom told us that she saw her child bloom from a shy little girl to one who enjoys every minute, every opportunity to express herself and deal with barriers yet to be. The world is all new every day.

We make this happen by supporting financially as well as personally. I’m proud to be a part of it. I hope you can join me in giving long lasting memories for these children.

Kids Kamp in Action!

Hear For Good box locations

Martha Herman, President of QuotaGR and Martha Guenther, Volunteer at DHHS, donating hearing aids.

Hear for Good box locations – April 2016

These locations will accept used hearing aids. The hearing aids will be recycled and provide refurbished hearing aids to low income individuals. Thank you for helping Quota International help the hard of hearing in our community.

Southeast

DHHS, 4328 Kalamazoo, SE. Contact Deb Atwood 732-7358
Grand Rapids Public Schools, Ken-O-Sha Campus, 1353 VanAuken SE.
Elder’s Helpers, 500 Cherry St S.E., Contact Dusty, 454-8305
Mercy Health Physician Partners Family Medicine – 300 Lafayette SE, Suite 4000 and 4200. Contact Dr. Stanford 685-6921 or Miguel Mesa 685-6267
St Mary’s Hospital, 200 Jefferson Ave, SE -Sue Scharf
Clark Retirement Home, 1152 Franklin Street S.E. Contact Michele Lipka
Sunrise Senior Living, 3041 Charlevoix Dr. SE. Contact is Deb Roost 942-7200.

Southwest

Kaczmarski Hearing Services, 2225 Main St SW, Ste. #140, Contact Beckie

Northwest

Northview’s West Oakview Campus, 3880 Stuyvesant NW, Contact Beckie
Covenant Village, 2510 Lake Michigan Drive NW, Contact Reception Desk 735-4541
Holy Spirit Parish, 2230 Lake Michigan Drive NW, Contact Deb or Mary 453-6369
Kaczmarski Hearing Services, 523 Wilson Ave NW. Contact Beckie

Northeast

Kaczmarski Hearing Services, In Northpointe Bank at I-96 & East Beltline, Contact Kate, Audiologist

Downtown

Fulton Farmer’s Market, 1147 Fulton St E, Box available at Quota Table the first Saturday May-October
Spectrum Health Audiology Department, 100 Michigan Ave. Contact Kirsten Kramer

Rockford

Pederson Funeral Home, 127 N. Monroe Street, Contact David Germain 866-1515

Lakeview

Lakeview Terrace Assisted Living, 9494 Paden Road, Lakeview. Contact Carmel Slebodnick 989-5550

Kids Kamp 2015

President’s message, July 7, 2015

I just finished our donation request to Meijer for the Duck Walk. I was astonished as to how much we give to this community through our work, and I didn’t even mention all of it!!

Here’s just a snip-it of what I wrote:

Approximately 3.6% of Kent County residents are deaf or hard of hearing, or 22,381 people. There are 9,506 in Ottawa County and 9,012 in Muskegon County.

The statistics identify 19.5% are below the poverty line and 12.9% receive SSI. We, at Quota, raise money to change people’s lives by providing low cost hearing aids, support for internet services for those who cannot afford the link to the outside world, phones or even door bells and for interpreters when they go to the doctor’s office. We take for granted the many services they are restricted to enjoying….television, movies, concerts, etc.

Often they are isolated and depressed due to their disability. We will take this donation to impact their lives, and the lives of those around them, in a variety of ways. The deaf have a unique culture all their own. We need to help them feel part of the whole community with positive encouragement.

Achievements:

Purchased a set of hearing aids, retail cost $6,000, for a young lady who suffers from Meniere’s Disease. Quota Club collected used hearing aids for points towards a new set. The young lady is low income and is so thrilled to hear! The Hear for Good Project is still collecting used hearing aids and can now purchase 7 more hearing aids.

Collaborate with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services to support summer camp experiences for 50 children

Work with Northview’s Total Communication Program to support 23 high school students to visit Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., the only university for deaf students

Provide interpreter services to Spanish speaking mothers of children who attend the Grand Rapids Oral Deaf program; provide support of time and services to the program