Helping Hand, one of Illinois’ largest organizations dedicated to serving people with intellectual/developmental disabilities, is conducting its “Annual Appeal” fundraiser during the months of November/December.
The Countryside-based organization, whose adult services are in Hodgkins, serves 765 children and adults coming from over 70 Illinois communities — with some clients even coming from Indiana.
“Helping Hand is not just a place for people with disabilities, it’s a place for all people to be transformed,” Bill Dwyer, President and CEO of Helping Hand, said during a recent visit to the main campus at 9649 W. 55th Street., Countryside. “It’s for all people to connect and see that we’re equally valued in the community.”
Helping Hand’s clients come primarily from more than 65 school districts throughout the Southwest suburbs. Programs range from the Helping Hand School, community day service, outpatient programs, employment services, and an aging program.
Some of Helping Hand’s adult clients live in one of the 16 Community Living Homes (CILA), and those facilities add to the organization’s costs.
Dwyer talked about the misconceptions many had about people with disabilities, especially ones that assume his clients aren’t ready to participate fully in society.
“We believe that people are already there,” he said. “They’re already ready to do these things. It’s the rest of the world that has to equally value people with disabilities.”
Dwyer spoke of one of Helping Hand’s clients, a gentleman in his early 50s who had always had trouble connecting with people, didn’t have work, and generally wasn’t taking care of himself.
The man had always wanted a job, but his inability to connect with people led to him being depressed. The depression often led to anger.
But the man loved to tinker with machinery of all sorts and the organization was able to place him in a job with a company that fixes wheelchairs. The effect was dramatic.
“This guy is slick now,” Dwyer said. “He dresses, he’s got a girlfriend, and they go out on dates. He’s got a purpose.”
And the Helping Hand client was not the only one impacted.
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“It changed the culture of the company he works at,” Dwyer said. “The guy who owns the company said they were happier, had more fun, and they see the purpose now. They were transformed because John got a job.”
Dwyer pointed out that the level of service provided by Helping Hand didn’t come cheap, stressing that about a third of the staff employed by the center were professionals with advanced degrees.
Of the 250 people employed at Helping Hand, 10 are special education teachers, some are specialists in occupational and behavioral therapy, and some are paraprofessional substitutes in the adult programs.
Many of Helping Hand’s clients live in one of the 16 Community Living Homes (CILA), and those facilities add to the organization’s costs.
The State does provide aid from the Department of Human Services, which account for about 46% of Helping Hand’s operating expenses. Another 31% comes from school fees, 11% comes from programs and services fees, and the rest comes from fundraising and grants.
But State aid doesn’t cover the cost of services provided by Helping Hand.
“We have to fundraise,” Dwyer said. “We believe in quality. We believe in high standards and the State does not pay for high standards.”
Dwyer said that although there were many other nonprofits in the State providing varying levels of services to residents, the community of people with intellectual/developmental disabilities was still underserved.
“There are about 30,000 people in Illinois that are not being served,” he said. “They are homeless, they are living in parent’s basements, they have alcohol or drug problems, and because they have nobody there to care for them, they self-medicate. There’s a lot of need in Illinois.”
Erika Vavrik, Vice President of Advancement, said the 150 volunteers contributing to the organization certainly helped.
“Volunteers help fill some of the gaps,” Vavrik said pointing out that many provided help in gardening and cooking, and landscaping. “It is great for us because landscaping is expensive and we get that done. Another reason it’s great is that they connect with the clients. We’ve just introduced Helping Hand and people with disabilities to 20 folks who are now passionate about the work that we do.”
But with providing services for the average client of Helping Hand costing about $70,000 annually, the financial need is still critical.
Part of the increased cost is due to Helping Hand raising the salary levels of staff in the last decade, with the average salaries of employees going from $9 per hour to $19.75.
Dwyer estimated that even though the Helping Hand had grown into a $20 million a year organization, it was still about $2.5 million short of providing its level of current service.
“That’s to keep afloat at our level,” he said. “We don’t have as big of an issue with recruitment of staff, because we pay higher salaries than most. We have more professionals here than at other agencies. We have more tools, including the electronics and technology. The State doesn’t reimburse any of those things.”
For further information on Helping Hand’s upcoming events and how to donate, visit its webpage at helpinghand-il.org.
Hank Beckman is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.