MISSION STATEMENT

To provide Christian faith-based housing, services and supports for adults with intellectual impairments, where they can grow personally and spiritually to reach their God given potential.

2018 Rainbow Homes Membership

Please consider being a Rainbow Homes Member by joining our great organization in making a

difference in the lives of adults learning to be independent.

See the inserted envelope.

If you would like to put this membership donation on a credit card, please give Rainbow Homes a

call, and we can scan the number on our Credit Card scanner/square option, or use the envelope

enclosed in this Newsletter.

Call 517-699-8454 or visit our website for more details: www.rainbow-homes.org.

Thank you for all your support.

We appreciate all you do for us.

We now have information on our website, about being able

to make payments online using Stripe.

We are always in need of volunteers to

help our residents do their spring cleaning in the apartments and outside.

Also, consider volunteering to help with our garden cleaning and planting this year.

Let us know if you or your group can help. Just call 699-8454 ask for Susan or

Danielle for details.

RAINBOW HOMES FALL NEWSLETTER 2017

Volume 27 Issue 24

Residents in Action

Our residents have been very active and have participated in some of the most exciting events since the spring.

Rainbow Homes was represented well at the Special Olympics State Volleyball Tournament held in Mt. Pleasant, MI in June. Those who participated were: Cathy, Kevin 1, Chad, Ron, Jim and Angie…good playing.

Softball team those who participated were: Cathy, Kevin 1, Cassie, Chad, Ron, Jim, Angie & Randy.

Relay for Life Walk was in Holt on June 9 & 10 at the Holt High School with 12 residents participating. The group raised over $600. Extra incentive was given with $1 offered for each lap they completed. They blew through $100 in 2 hours. Great Job folks! To support them go to www.RelayForLife.com Team–Holt Kiwanis-Hayhoe Asphalt

Thanks to the Knights of Columbus Knights of Columbus St Joseph - Irish Hills Shrine

Knights of Columbus St Casimir Knights of Columbus St Mary’s Cathedral Parish Knights of Columbus Immaculate Heart of Mary

St. Mary’s Knights of Columbus in Charlotte Knights of Columbus of Resurrection Church

St. Joseph Council – Knights of Columbus St Gerard & Holy Cross - Knights of Columbus

To all Major Donors this past Season: John & Susan Stoltzfus Marie Oomen Carolyn Texera Marylin & Jennifer Ebaugh Accident Fund Susan Shehan Timber Ridge Golf Course Pat Kelley Joe Perrone Dean Transportation Reno’s Buboltz Insurance John & Cindy Shinsky Joan Lenhard Royal Landscape Norbert & Darlene Simon Marilyn Fitzsimmons Nancy Passanante Hayhoe Asphalt & Paving Holt United Methodist Church Brian Taylor Kevin & Lori Wheat Richard & Jeanne Angevine Dykema Gossett Mary Oullette Capital Region Foundation Deborah Davis Employees of Morgan Stanley Holt United Methodist Church Women

Students from Lansing Christian School volunteered to work at Rainbow Homes for 3 days in May. They landscaped the area around the shed, washed walls in the Community Room, and completed other yard work

needing done. They also spent part of an afternoon at City Limits having pizzas and interacting with the residents during a bowling challenge.

BLOSSOM TIME BALL The dance was held at Eagle Eye in June and nine of our residents attended the

dinner and dance. They boogied to the Sea Cruisers.

Did you know that the Rainbow Homes residents and program participants have been volunteering at

the Greater Lansing Food Bank for well over 13 years? Every Wednesday, the volunteers sort, organize, and

sanitize the food donations. They also process produce that is donated through Gleaners, which

includes potatoes and apples, which are always very messy.

Thank you to all the LCC Nursing Students who have volunteered within the last 6 months…sure have appreciated

your help.

THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL GOLF OUTING FUNDRAISER We would like to extend our most gracious thank you to all those who again made our annual golf outing

another success. The outing was on Sept. 17th, and we were able to make over $7,000. What a great event. We really had some great golfers, and great volunteers. Thanks to everyone who participated and we hope to see you again next year. Our winners really beat out the rest of the teams- congratulations!!!

We need to make sure we give them more competition next year. Ron was our big celebrity golfer this year!! Great Job Ron!!

Also...our residents participated in the Autumn Classic in August at Lk Lansing Park North - put on by Playmakers as a fundraiser for Special Olympics. Those who walked through the woods for the cause were: Jack, Angie, Kevin 1, Troy, Jim, Chad, Ron, Jenny, Randy, Kelsey, Patrick, Nicholas and Cathy. They were all thankful the 90° weather held off until after the race. These folks were part of the Heartwood Friends Team. The goal was to raise $2000 and to the team’s surprise they exceeded that with over $5000 raised. Currently the Special Olympic team is speeding into playing Basketball

~ Good Attitudes and Sportsmanship is what is all about. ~

TRAVEL NEWS !!! Our Travel Club / CLS Coordinator, Cammie has been working on coordinating the trips for the upcoming year.

Jiffy Mix plant tour/Hell, MI tour (day trip)

Holland Tulip Festival (day trip)

Sleeping Bear Dunes (overnight)

Detroit Tigers (day trip)

Kalahari Resort and Water Park (overnight)

Great Lakes Crossing Mall-Lego Land/Sea Life Aquarium (overnight)

Ark Encounter/Creation Museum (overnight)

Fall Color Tour/Murder Mystery Train (day trip)

MSU Basketball Game (day trip)

Polar Express (day trip)

If you would like to volunteer for any of our trips, please give Cammie a call at (517) 699-8454.

As always, check out trips on our website at: www.rainbow-homes.org. Trip fliers will be available soon – with dates and prices

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago USS Silversides Soo Locks Canal

Submarine Museum

His dream has come true. Gary has had a dream to go to Italy for years. He has wanted to visit the Vatican, see the Pope, and eat real Italian food. He needed to save his money and get a support person to attend with him. With special work from Shelia Bannet-Miles who worked on the details and Erica Kemp who volunteered to be his escort, it has come true. Gary was able to go to Italy for 7 days in November for a dream of a life time. To view pictures check out Rainbow Homes Facebook page. Thank you, Erica

SHARED LAST TIME HOWEVER THIS IS IMPORTANT INFORMATION

ABLE Account December 19th 2014 Congress created a new 529A section of the IRS code and authorized Tax advantaged saving for individuals with Disabilities. The Michigan ABLE (MiABLE) was signed into law in October 2015. ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) which allows savings for the future, while protecting eligibility for public benefits tax free. There can only be one ABLE account per person with a total annual contribution of $14,000 per year. Michigan has the highest allowable limit of $500,000. A person can have a Special Needs Trust Fund as well as an ABLE Account. MiABLE Account also allow for contributions from family or outside individuals. The individual may also contribute thru earnings These funds can be used for a broad line of expenses of

We had our annual Family and Friends picnic again in August with a “PEANUTS PICNIC” theme. The rain held off as the over 180 enjoyed hot

dogs and other great dishes brought by everyone to enjoy. Al Aldrich was honored as the “boomerang staff” – coming back again helping with maintenance and teasing the residents. His nickname is “OLD GOAT!” Sally Aldrich was honored as the volunteer of the year.

Sally and Al have both chaperoned trips, helped at Rainbow Homes, and held game nights with the residents. Both have always been willing to

help out in a pinch. Thank you – we do appreciate you. Thanks to everyone who helped with the set up and organization of the

picnic..what a great success again this year.

A LIFE TIME DREAM

RAINBOW HOMES “WISH LIST”

If you have any items that you would like to donate or volunteer to help out at Rainbow Homes, please contact Susan at (517)699-8454 or email: rainbowhomes@sbcglobal.net. A donation letter will be sent to you for tax purposes.

Thank you for your consideration in helping us with an In-Kind-Donation MAINTENANCE ITEMS:

• Mulch – for our three quad-plex buildings • 7 Replacement exterior doors for our apartments (cost is $250 per apartment) • 4 Replacement stairs for our attics (cost is $250 including installation) • Vanities for bathrooms – need to replace all apartments

OFFICE ITEMS: • Office chairs • Copy paper/envelops (business) • Misc. supplies (ie… paper clips, scissors, pens, pencils, permanent markers) • Overhead fans/with 3 lights

STORAGE ITEMS:

• Storage totes – 18 gallons or larger • Storage organizer/rack for bike helmets

MISC. ITEMS:

• Dining Room tablecloths – need “oil cloth” ones that will hold up longer 6 1/2 feet each • Dining Room metal chairs • Pots & Pans for Annex kitchen – for the cooking classes • Rags for cleaning/painting • Stackable Washer/Dryer • Shelving units or materials to build shelves in the Annex attic with additional plywood to expand

floor storage

VOLUNTEERING (please call to set up something): • Teach Residents how to cook basic foods or make desserts with them. • Need individuals who would be willing to do Spring clean-up, work with the residents cleaning up

the yards around all the apartments. Many hands are needed to help supervise. • Staining the picnic tables and swings. • Window washing in the apartments and the community room. • We will be setting schedule for apartment “Spring Cleaning” – residents will need assistance in

doing a good deep cleaning of their apartments. Packing up winter clothes, and getting out the summer clothes.

• Power washing of our three buildings. • Cleaning gutters. • Putting down mulch and weeding the properties. • Volunteer to go on day trips with the residents. • Daily walking for exercise with our residents, or come and play outdoor games with residents. • Get garden set up and planted. • Volunteer to bring in dessert one night for the residents (they eat at 5pm).

Updated 12/1/17

TO OUR NEW RESIDENT

BIG THANKS TO ALL STAFF FOR THE HARD WORK ALL THROUGH THE YEAR, FROM THE BOARD!

Cole was living with his family and recently moved to Rainbow Homes. He attends school, at Beekman. He enjoys playing video games and he has recently started to try new things, like foods, shopping and socializing with friends. Did we mention – he likes to dance? Cole rides the city bus with his class. He is excited about becoming more independent.

~ MAJOR BIG TICKET ITEM NEEDED AT RAINBOW HOMES ~ Flooring through the offices to match the community room area (we have some) but need assistance with purchasing more and also getting someone to put it in. Please contact Susan or Danielle at (517) 699-8454 if you can help with this.