"The adults have a sense of "I can,"' says Eva Aguirre, President and CEO of New Danville.
A non-profit charitable and educational organization, New Danville was first established in 2005. The mission is simple, "providing adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities an opportunity to live enriched and purposeful lives." The organization is built from the founder's vision based on creating opportunities for individuals to prosper in communities of their choice, "where they can feel valued, respected in a safe, supported environment," explains Eva.
New Danville’s two main programs are the day program and the residential community, which were developed to empower and maximize personal independence by offering learning opportunities that reinforce personal growth and freedom of choice. There are four key elements in which this is achieved at New Danville:
LIVE
New Danville's neighborhood Meadowbrook is a community consisting of various housing options at affordable rental rates. Residents can choose from 4 - bedroom homes and 1 and 2 - bedroom duplexes with utilities, satellite television, maintenance, and an on-site residential advisor all included in the monthly rent. This neighborhood truly covers the full scope of the needs of any of their residents providing a nurturing and fulfilling environment allowing for growth and fostering a healthy living experience.
LEARN
With over 20 activities in New Danville's Day Habilitation program, participants are given the opportunity to develop practical and social skills to help them thrive and live enriched and purposeful lives.
The Animal Therapy Program
One of the most popular activities that have been a part of the curriculum from the start is the AG Life (Animal Therapy) - Miniature Horse Program, "part of our class, is to teach our adults how to care for the animals and how to feed and groom them, while supervised by a staff. They get to care for the animals as anyone else would," says Eva. Clients also learn how to clean the horse stalls in the barn and lay out fresh hay! The Animal Therapy Program is very interactive which is not only centered around taking care of horses but more importantly it gives them a great sense of pride, purpose, and teamwork too!
WORK
Through the “JOBS Program,” some participants can even become employees of New Danville! An exciting opportunity for adults to participate in product-based and job skills training is to promote independence and self-reliance. The program allows for residents to create a feeling of self-growth and satisfaction in their work helping others to share in their experience.
GROW
Through New Danville’s programs, individuals can participate in activities that enrich the mind and empower personal choice, independence, and dignity. “Seeing our adults engage with our animals, primarily the horses, you can really sense pride in what they do, that they are caring for a live being…they have a sense of "I can,"' says Eva. Additional activities include anything from gardening, woodworking to money management.
New Danville’s programs and residential facilities are one of a kind, but none of this would be possible without the fantastic volunteers who assist the staff on a daily basis! Volunteering is essential in the successful running of this beautiful 42-acre community. There are many ways to lend a helping hand in running the organization. Areas of need include:
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Day Habilitation: sewing, art, photography, gardening, cooking, etc.
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Special Events: Client Christmas and Halloween parties, annual fundraiser “Tea on the Lawn.”
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Manufacturing & Production: develop and create New Danville products, package and label products, and seasonal gifts.
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Jazzy Junque Resale Store: receiving donations, cleaning, pricing, and customer service.
You, too, can get involved in the New Danville organization by volunteering and donating via their website: http://www.newdanville.org. Take this opportunity to be a part of an amazing program designed to help encourage others to thrive.
The community that New Danville has created is something extraordinary. A place where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities can live an everyday life, learning, growing, and ending the day with a sense of fulfillment, a true sense of I can!