The holiday season is upon us, and as another year draws to a close, we are reminded again of how very grateful we are for the continued support we receive from our local community: Families, parents, educators, local businesses and organizations, politicians, local influencers, law enforcement and first responders, radio stations and so many others… We are forever grateful for these groups and individuals who share our vision to create this residential community for adults with disabilities. We would not have been able to raise $36,000 in our recent Mustang Raffle fundraiser or host a successful gala event with Trent Harmon providing the music and so many local businesses providing the food and entertainment for our 3rd annual Hearts and Hoofbeats. If you missed out on this event, no hard feelings and we hope to see you next year! Here are some beautiful photos that were taken by David O’Dell at this year’s Hearts & Hoofbeats:
The traditional African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child” has been widely quoted in many instances, and we believe it is true here as well. For a community such as Vanguard Landing to flourish and provide alternative opportunities for a fulfilled life for adults with intellectual disabilities, the community has to understand the pressing need for it in the first place. The community must wrap its arms around these individuals and see the importance and value of creating avenues for choice rather than limiting the options that are available to this population and their families.
The reality is that too many of our family members and friends with intellectual disabilities have little to no choice in residential and employment opportunities. The current options are scarce, require that the person have a Medicaid waiver, and are not appropriate for their individual needs. Vanguard Landing was created to provide another option for persons and their families to choose from. One size does not fit all and everyone wants the chance to live a fulfilling life and some just need a little extra support to achieve this. Furthermore, the families of people with intellectual disabilities must cope with the fear and uncertainty of who will care for or provide support for their loved one after they are gone.
The founders of Vanguard Landing want to help in meeting the needs of our fellow citizens with needs for support due to their intellectual and developmental disability. Vanguard Landing is going to follow in the footsteps of all of the progressive intentional communities around the country in offering another choice for our fellow citizens. Everyone has the right to choose from a variety of settings in which to live and work and Vanguard Landing will be another option for families to choose.
We thank every single one of our supporters, volunteers, sponsors, and donors – large or small. Thank you to everyone who follows us on Facebook, subscribes to our newsletter, attends our events, and volunteers their time and energy toward this special cause. You are what we are thankful for, today and every day!
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