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Alpha Resource Center provides services and supports to over 100 adult participants with developmental disabilities in our day program. We rely on a fleet of vehicles for a variety of community activities including life skills - (banking, shopping); mental and physical wellness - (yoga classes, swimming at the YMCA, therapeutic horseback riding lessons); and work and volunteer crews (keeping local parks and fire stations clean, delivering meals with Meals on Wheels or Food From the Heart). We provide over 100 hours of volunteer service each month! In order to continue to support our participants in living full and meaningful lives, Alpha must have reliable vehicles.
Unfortunately our fleet of vehicles is old and in constant need of repair! The average age of our vehicles is 15 years old! We have only 9 vans to serve 105 participants. Outings often have to be canceled due to a malfunctioning vehicle leading to disappointment and frustration from both staff and participants. Recently we had to officially retire two of our vans because they were going to be too expensive to repair (one needed over $5,000 in repairs!). We are in desperate need of a new vehicle to replace these two and help put some new life back into our fleet! There are always more groups that would like to plan off-site activities than there are vehicles available. We appreciate any support we can get towards the purchase of a "new" used van.
We have seen a significant rise in the self-esteem of our participants as they engage in community service, recognize their contributions and develop relationships with their neighbors. The benefits of community access go beyond the effects on those who participate in Alpha’s programs. Alpha participants' presence in the community has a significant impact on the people they meet. One volunteer who works side by side with volunteers from Alpha said, “They are remarkable workers, and are always cheerful and ready to help. I look forward to working with them every week. My life is enriched in knowing them.”
When asked why we need new vans, here is what a few participants had to say, "We're having problems with the vans we have. The Apollo is getting old. The doors for the lift won't shut! Definitely we need new vans!" And: "Because this one, the gold Apollo, it went kaput!!"
Unfortunately our fleet of vehicles is old and in constant need of repair! The average age of our vehicles is 15 years old! We have only 9 vans to serve 105 participants. Outings often have to be canceled due to a malfunctioning vehicle leading to disappointment and frustration from both staff and participants. Recently we had to officially retire two of our vans because they were going to be too expensive to repair (one needed over $5,000 in repairs!). We are in desperate need of a new vehicle to replace these two and help put some new life back into our fleet! There are always more groups that would like to plan off-site activities than there are vehicles available. We appreciate any support we can get towards the purchase of a "new" used van.
We have seen a significant rise in the self-esteem of our participants as they engage in community service, recognize their contributions and develop relationships with their neighbors. The benefits of community access go beyond the effects on those who participate in Alpha’s programs. Alpha participants' presence in the community has a significant impact on the people they meet. One volunteer who works side by side with volunteers from Alpha said, “They are remarkable workers, and are always cheerful and ready to help. I look forward to working with them every week. My life is enriched in knowing them.”
When asked why we need new vans, here is what a few participants had to say, "We're having problems with the vans we have. The Apollo is getting old. The doors for the lift won't shut! Definitely we need new vans!" And: "Because this one, the gold Apollo, it went kaput!!"