Countryside Expansion Has Many Benefits - Part 2

Never having been a part of a groundbreaking ceremony (see accompanying images), I was skeptical about it’s…legitimacy, I guess. Permit delays and other issues plagued Countryside’s Building Opportunities construction start date—originally planned for June. So when it came time to actually put a shovel in the ground I figured it’d be another few weeks before the heavy machinery showed up.

Yet, as the universe has a way of doing when I make predictions, the Caterpillars descended the next business day and we already have our connection established to the sewer! Also, it appears I’ve reached that point in life when water distribution and waste disposal never sounded so exciting…

Now, in Part 1 of this story I promised some details on what our 9,000 sq. ft. expansion will mean for Countryside’s employees and the individuals served by the agency. So here goes…

Problem 1: Mold & Structural Damage

The original Countryside Farmhouse School will soon be demolished and, honestly, good riddance. For quite some time it has not been a place where Countryside provided direct service but, rather, it housed the In-Home Respite office and Development Department. These offices currently reside in a tricked-out construction-like trailer. (By tricked-out, I am referring to our mini-fridge.)

With the renovation and expansion of Countryside Center, Respite and Development will receive offices located inside the Center. Personally, this is thrilling because—as the staff member responsible for communicating about what’s going on—well, location, location, location, right?

Problem 2: Flooding

In the next few weeks, some serious re-grading of our property will commence. Currently, when it rains it flows through the building. After displacing a bunch of “excess land,” all rainwater will be re-routed around the Center and into a retention pond.

With this property enhancement, program classes can continue and damages to our facility will be minimized despite Mother Nature’s best attempts otherwise. And this year she did a number on us. It prompted me to wonder, “What do you call a ‘snow day’ in July?”

Problem 3: Septic & Well Water

A few simple equations should help illustrate this long-overdue property modification.

Septic System + 225 Daily Users = abysmal, messy, dangerous, etc.

Sewer Access + 275 Daily Users = amazing, clean, efficient, etc.

I think this point goes without any further explanation, suffice it to say the whole point is that the benefits won’t be seen.

Problem 4: At Capacity!

Perhaps the most uplifting and sexy—at least from a marketing standpoint—benefits are entailed in the additional 9,000 square feet themselves.

• More space means Countryside can provide services to persons currently on our waiting list. An entire new work area will be built and an additional 50 area residents with disabilities can attend each weekday, benefitting from paid employment, work skills training, socialization opportunities, and everything else Countryside has to offer. Think about it: as you read this, 50 people are just waiting for the day we can welcome them to Countryside!

• More space means we can bring in more work. Countryside provided
  $552,000 in sub-contract work during the last fiscal year on both our campuses, so additional space would allow us to service more area companies in their production needs. It also would put more money into the hands of our program participants, which they surely spend in our surrounding communities. Long ago I tired of the phrase “In this economy,” but in this case… “In this economy,” this expansion is such a big deal!

• In the first phase of Countryside’s expansion, the participant lunchroom will expand from comically small to absolutely reasonable. Aside from the safety benefits, people just need more space. I know that, at least when I eat, I like people to not be all up in my business… As participant Kristine H. put it, the lunchroom being bigger is a good idea “so that no one has to push to get to their seats.” Amen, sister.

• A larger Center will mean more space for our participants with complex disabilities as well as our seniors (age 55+). Without a doubt, they will benefit most from the expansion.

• And if space is important to people when eating, it most definitely applies on a whole different level when we’re talking about utilizing the bathrooms. Imagine having a physical disability and facing each day at work navigating narrow hallways with dozens of other people while sharing cramped bathrooms. No thank you…

• Program classes—Money Skills, Mental Health & Wellness, Arts & Crafts, Exercise & Nutrition, Computer Skills—are an integral part of the services Countryside program staff provide to our individuals. Thousands of additional square feet will provide ample places for these classes to convene. Our folks choose what class they want to participate in and, at least from a scheduling standpoint, with additional workshop locations it won’t be such a nightmare. Next spring, when the expansion is complete, participants can spread out as they learn—forgetting the days when 10 people convened around a small table to work on currency addition in a 12’x12’ room…

Problem 5: A Fire = Catastrophe

Congested work areas, hallways, and bathrooms would be nothing compared to the disaster a fire would cause. Sprinklers will help protect our property, minimize damage and enable us to “bounce back” and continue to provide our much-needed services as quickly as possible.

I feel privileged to be on staff at Countryside while this construction project is taking place. I have no doubts that the transformation of our Palatine property will serve as a wonderful metaphor for the individuals we serve who, with the right support staff and tremendous choice at their fingertips, each make transformations of their own.