COVID-19 Update

Gerry Beagles • November 17, 2020

Garden Center Family,

 

We’ve been on quite a journey these past seven months and we wanted to give you an update on where we are as an agency regarding the coronavirus.

 

We closed the Day Programs and sheltered in place starting March 13 th.  Soon afterward, the Illinois Department of Human Services mandated that all Community Day Programs be closed as of March 17 th.

 

We were able to garner assistance in funding through the State and Federal government that helped us through the spring and summer.  We experienced exceptionally high costs due to using a live-in staffing model that we adopted for most of our homes. This was the safest option as we were then able to stop the flow of staff going in and out of the homes for their shifts and this ensured increased safety for all involved.

 

Staff were paid to stay home and we successfully made it through the spring and summer with all our employees being paid their full wages.

 

While we had several staff test positive, none of these cases had resulted in exposures to our consumers.  We successfully kept the virus out of the homes until September 8 th.  We had a staff member test positive and soon we had consumers at the house test positive as well.  Since then we’ve seen the numbers across the state grow at an incredible rate.  We’ve dealt with these same increases at Garden Center as we’ve had cases at two more of our homes.

 

After extensive work to mitigate risk as much as possible, we were able to re-open the Community Day Program on September 14 th. We installed air purifiers, no touch faucets, soap and towel dispensers, ultra-violet air treatments through the HVAC system, in addition to hydrostatic sprayers used for disinfecting. We supported a small but mighty group of consumers until November 6th, at which point a staff member tested positive. We had already planned on closing after the Thanksgiving holidays, through December and January.  With this positive test and the steady, strong growth of the virus numbers, we decided to close the program early.  We thank the families that were able to attend during this time and we hope we will be able to see them again on Feb 11 th.

 

In Illinois there have been 763 positive cases of COVID of people with disabilities living in CILAs.  Thirty one of those people have passed. In long term care, which our 15 bed Intermediate Care Facility falls under, there have been 39,686 cases with 5,493 deaths.

 

Since the start of this journey on March 13 th , we’ve had 9 positive staff and 8 positive consumers.  While most had very minimal symptoms, one employee and one consumer did require hospitalization. Thankfully, all are healthy at this point.

 

We want to thank you for your dedication at this time.  We know it’s been hard with the limited visitation at the homes and the added measures that need to be taken to see your loved one.  We thank you for understanding and for supporting the organization.  Many families have donated meals to the houses, activities of things to do, and have sent their love and care through phone calls and video chats.  We installed Echo devices in each home in the hope of facilitating more individual/family communication.

 

We are moving forward into uncertain territory and we look forward to your support along the way.  We are now able to do our own in-house testing for consumers and staff.  This has added a great capability to make quick decisions when there are possible exposures, and to also pre-emptively test new staff before they work any shifts.  As we move forward we’ll be doing some regular testing at some of the homes where we are serving more medically fragile individuals. We’ve also added Station MD apparatus to most of the homes.  This allows a virtual doctors’ visit and access to a physician 24/7.  These stations come equipped with a bluetooth stethoscope, high resolution camera, and data center.  We’re hopeful these will help us eliminate some unnecessary emergency room visits and gain us medical assistance in a safe, expeditious way, especially on evenings and weekends.  This advancement in technology is possible because of your donations at last year’s Gala during the paddle raise! Thank you for making this possible.

 

As we prepare for the upcoming holiday season, some families have chosen to have their loved ones home over the next month and a half. For everyone else we are still unable to provide in house visits or have consumers easily go back and forth from the group home to their family’s home. We have invested in patio heaters for many of the homes and have cleaned out garages to make them more functional meeting spaces. Additionally, we have prepared the State and Kedzie buildings for family visits as well.  Please contact your QHSP if this is something you’re interesting in scheduling.

 

Please keep us in your thoughts as we move forward through this difficult holiday season and winter.  Garden Center is on a list to get the vaccine in the early stages.  The preliminary data for at least two vaccines looks promising and we’re very hopeful this will help us get to the place where we can easily see each other again and give as many hugs as we want to!

 

Thank you again for your support at this time – we’ll do another update soon.

 

Gerry and Cindy

 

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Celebrating 70 Years of Service—and Looking Ahead Together

By Gerry Beagles • July 30, 2026
 Our 70th Anniversary Gala was a wonderful success and a memorable celebration of Garden Center Services' seven decades of improving the lives of individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. It was an evening filled with reflection, gratitude, inspiration, and hope as we honored our past while reaffirming our commitment to the future. One of the most moving moments of the evening was a slideshow highlighting many of Garden Center Services' accomplishments throughout the years. As photos of the people, programs, and milestones that have shaped our agency appeared on the screen, they served as a powerful reminder of the countless lives that have been touched through the dedication of our staff, families, volunteers, and supporters. The evening was enhanced by beautiful live music provided by a talented trio connected with Lewis University. Guests also shared many compliments about the excellent menu and cuisine, making the celebration enjoyable in every respect. A true highlight of the gala was the opportunity to recognize several individuals and families whose extraordinary generosity and commitment have helped strengthen our agency over many years. It was our privilege to publicly express our sincere gratitude to the Ballis-Fox family, the Head family, Ms. Linda Sherwood, and Worth Village Mayor Mary Werner. Their unwavering support has made a lasting difference in the lives of the individuals we serve. Mayor Werner, who lives next door to one of our group homes, delivered especially touching remarks. She spoke about the compassion, dedication, and professionalism she witnesses every day from our staff as they support the residents of that home. Her heartfelt observations were a meaningful affirmation of the care our employees provide and the positive impact they have on the lives of those we serve. We were also honored to welcome many distinguished guests, including numerous individuals who participate in Garden Center Services' programs. We were pleased to have Stickney Township Supervisor Diane Viverito and members of her family in attendance, as well as U.S. Representative Sean Casten, who represents Illinois' 6th Congressional District. Congressman Casten shared thoughtful and inspiring remarks that resonated with everyone in attendance. He acknowledged the challenges currently facing both our nation and organizations like Garden Center Services, while expressing his confidence in the continued commitment of some members of Congress to ensuring that our country's most vulnerable and marginalized citizens receive the care and support they deserve. While the gala was first and foremost a celebration of our agency's remarkable history, it also served an important fundraising purpose. I am deeply grateful to the businesses, families, and individuals whose sponsorships, donations, and ticket purchases enabled us to raise significant funds in support of our mission. Your generosity helps sustain the essential services we provide each day. At the same time, I must share that our work is far from finished. As I have discussed with many of you over the past year, Garden Center Services is facing increasing financial pressures. While some of our funding sources are being reduced, the costs of operating our programs continue to rise. Although we are thankful for the success of the gala, additional support will be necessary to ensure we can continue providing the high-quality services our individuals and families depend upon. We also missed the many families who were unable to attend because of scheduling conflicts. I truly wish you could have experienced the joy, pride, and sense of community that filled the room as we celebrated everything we have accomplished together over the past 70 years. As the evening concluded, those in attendance were invited to consider making an additional financial contribution to Garden Center Services. I would like to extend that same invitation to everyone reading this issue of The Leaflet. If you believe your loved one is receiving quality care and support through Garden Center Services, and you are in a position to help ensure those services continue for years to come, I encourage you to visit our website and make a donation. You are also welcome to contact me directly at 708-560-4000 to discuss how you can support our mission. Now more than ever, we must stand together in our commitment to lift up those who need a helping hand. Thank you for your continued trust, generosity, and partnership as we build upon 70 years of service and look forward to the future together.

A Word From Gerry

By Gerry Beagles • May 6, 2026
Dear Friends and Supporters, Thank you for standing with Garden Center Services. I’m sharing this update both to keep you informed about important milestones at our agency and to invite you to continue investing in our work - improving the quality of life for the adults with developmental disabilities we are honored to serve. On Saturday, May 2, 2026, I celebrated my 23rd anniversary as Executive Director. When I accepted this position, I had no idea the decision would have such a profound impact on my life. Over the years, I’ve built lifelong, caring relationships with so many people connected to Garden Center Services. The incredible individuals we support have taught me so much about courage, honesty, and patience, and I am grateful for the privilege of learning alongside them. This journey has never been a solo effort. Many staff members have walked beside me for years, and their commitment and compassion have been instrumental in the progress and positive changes we’ve made. I also want to recognize the families of the people we serve, who have generously contributed their time, encouragement, and financial resources. Your trust and partnership strengthen everything we do. One of my strongest supporters has been my dad, Howard Beagles, who recently passed away on April 13 at the age of 97. He was deeply proud of what my wife, Cindy, and I were doing at Garden Center, and he took a genuine interest in getting to know our employees and the individuals that attend our programs. He played Santa at several of our Christmas parties and attended many of our fundraising events through the years. He even used his fireman’s pension to sponsor agency events, and he was one of our faithful monthly donors for years. We will miss him dearly, and we will carry his example of kindness and friendliness forward. I was hoping Dad could attend the grand opening of the Garden Apartments this summer, and I also wish he could have joined us as we celebrate Garden Center’s 70th anniversary on June 28 at Gaelic Park. While he won’t be with us in person, I know he’ll be there in spirit - cheering on the mission he believed in so strongly. As we look ahead, we’re committed to continuing to enhance programs, opportunities, and supports that help the adults we serve live fuller, more connected lives. The challenge of accomplishing this has become increasingly more difficult with the substantial increase in the cost of doing business and the negative impact of policy and funding changes at the federal level. If Garden Center Services has touched your life - as a family member, friend, employee, business partner, or community supporter - please consider making a gift or enlisting as one of our monthly donors. Any of you that would be interested in sponsoring or know a business who would like to sponsor Garden Center’s 70th Anniversary Celebration, reach out to me at 708-887-8588. Every donation helps create stability today and builds possibility for tomorrow. With gratitude, Gerry  Gerry Beagles Executive Director Garden Center Services

Seventy Years of Progress - And the Work Still Ahead

By Gerry Beagles • March 6, 2026
March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, a time to recognize progress, celebrate inclusion, and recommit ourselves to ensuring that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the opportunity to live full, meaningful lives in the communities they call home. This year holds special significance for us at Garden Center Services as we are celebrating our 70th anniversary of serving individuals with disabilities. For seven decades, our organization has walked alongside individuals and families - evolving, learning, and growing together. What began as a small effort driven by the compassion and determination of parents, has become an agency woven into the fabric of the communities we serve. Over the past 70 years, the landscape of services for individuals with developmental disabilities has transformed dramatically. We have witnessed the shift from institutionalization to community integration. We have seen the expansion of employment opportunities, residential options, educational access, and self-advocacy. Most importantly, we have seen individuals once marginalized become leaders, coworkers, neighbors, and friends. These gains did not happen by accident. They are the result of persistent advocacy, visionary families, dedicated staff & professionals, and communities willing to embrace inclusion. At Garden Center Services, we are profoundly grateful for: • The people we serve. • The families who entrusted us with their loved ones and who have been our partners in advocacy and growth. • Our extraordinary staff whose compassion, professionalism, and daily commitment make independence and dignity possible. • The generous individuals, foundations, and businesses whose financial support has sustained and strengthened our mission over the decades. Because of this collective effort, thousands of lives have been enriched - and our communities are stronger for it. Yet, while we celebrate progress, we must also acknowledge the challenges that lie before us. Recent funding and policy changes at the federal level have created significant fiscal pressures for agencies like ours. Across the country, nonprofit providers are navigating rising operational costs, workforce shortages, regulatory shifts, and uncertainty in reimbursement structures. For community-based organizations, even modest reductions or delays in funding can have profound impacts - not just on agencies, but on the individuals and families who depend on consistent, high-quality support. The reality is simple: community inclusion requires community investment. As we reflect during Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, we are reminded that progress is never permanent without vigilance. The rights, opportunities, and services that individuals enjoy today were secured through decades of advocacy. Sustaining and expanding those gains will require the same courage, collaboration, and commitment. Garden Center Services remains steadfast in our mission. For 70 years, we have adapted to changing environments while keeping one constant focus - improving the quality of life for the individuals we serve. We will continue to advocate, to innovate, and to stand with the people and families who rely on us. In this issue’s insert, you will see information from Fund Development Associate, Hailey Kmetty, explaining our kickoff of a Monthly Giving Initiative and how you can easily participate. This month, we celebrate how far we have come. And we renew our promise to keep moving forward. Together. Gerry
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