Giving Matters

Written by Jodi Bopp, CFRE
Vice President, Advancement

“We’re getting a new changing table!”

Stephen’s voice was excited. He’s the Program Manager at the Koinonia Enterprises (KE) LIFE Center and since Boundless and Koinonia had just joined together as one organization, I met him on a casual tour to learn about his program.

Stephen and his team welcome adults with developmental disabilities into the Lifelong Inclusion for Everyone (LIFE) Center, helping achieve their goals of community integration. The LIFE model clearly identifies adequate care and training needed for people with IDD to move from exclusion to community inclusion while addressing each person’s choices, barriers, and needed supports. People participating in LIFE Center programs enjoy life skills development, career exploration, creating arts projects, and, of course, hanging out with their friends.

Stephen showed me a large restroom, complete with everything you’d need to care for an adult who needs assistance with that most personal of acts: toileting. Inside the restroom was a changing table. The changing table is safe, but is a little narrow, and it couldn’t adjust for height.

Stephen quickly explained that the new table being delivered soon is wider and adjustable, which means a more convenient and efficient experience for both the person served and the staff providing the service. He also shared he’s had to turn away a few people for services because the existing table is too narrow.

We have Darla King and the team of King Business Interiors to thank for that new changing table. Darla is a longtime Boundless supporter, and on several occasions has provided furniture for our various programs across the state. Recently, she donated three wide, adjustable adult changing tables. Our program team quickly identified the areas where they would be used and Stephen can’t wait. Darla, her team and the people in the LIFE Center may never meet – but I got to see the impact of her generosity first-hand through Stephen’s eyes.

Every day, I get to work with people like Darla – people who want to make a difference in their own way in the lives of those Boundless serves. Now that Boundless and Koinonia have come together, we’re serving nearly 5,000 people statewide, which creates a lot of opportunity for our supporters to make a difference.

If you want to join Darla by making your own gift, I invite you to reach out to me directly (jbopp@iamboundless.org). While every supporter is different, each donation makes an impact on those we serve.