New Hope Stories

29 Jul - Desiring Independence

Posted at 18:21h in Client Profile, New Hope Stories 2 Comments

Sometimes it is hard for Linda Palmer to believe that she has been served by New Hope of Indiana for over 35 years. She moved into the residential facility in 1983 and was initially in a four bedroom on Alpha Hall. It was a tough adjustment at first as she moved from home and her family was in the Chicago area. Once Linda moved to her own bedroom, she really began figuring out her life and found a desire to be as independent as possible. In 1996, as the facility was downsizing for closure, she was...

19 Jul - A New Adventure

Posted at 15:03h in Food Truck Program, New Hope Stories 0 Comments

by Tim Dunkel, Food Truck Specialist The last several weeks have been some of the most challenging and rewarding weeks of my professional life. I've met a lot of new people and learned a lot of new things, and very few parts of my new job at New Hope of Indiana have been what I expected. Things that have surprised me about the individuals I work with: 1. Their knowledge and skills in the kitchen. 2. Their eagerness to learn about food safety and how to make good decisions while preparing food. 3. Their willingness to explore new foods. 4. Their openness to others' ideas and...

01 Jul - Cheese and Thank You is Rolling Forward

Posted at 17:26h in Food Truck Program, New Hope Stories, News 0 Comments

After what seems like a VERY long time, it's finally time to welcome our first Food Truck Specialist, Tim Dunkel! Tim comes to New Hope with a background in elementary school special education and applied behavior analysis (ABA). He has experience working with children and young adults with disabilities as well as restaurant experience, making him a great fit for Cheese and Thank You! Tim is originally from Fort Branch, Indiana near Evansville, and he graduated from Wabash College in 2015. His professional experience and passion for serving youth with disabilities drove Tim to apply for a Supported Employment position with...

21 Jun - A Doctor’s Service

Posted at 20:04h in New Hope Stories 0 Comments

New Hope clients, associates, volunteers and Board members would like to thank Dr. Ken Krueger for his faithful service as a New Hope Board member for nine years and would like to wish him well in his future endeavors. Dr. Krueger has been instrumental in ensuring organizational integrity and governance continuity before, during and following New Hope’s transition from the St. Vincent New Hope era to the New Hope of Indiana era. Moreover, he has also consistently advocated for the best interests our clients and has always displayed the utmost care and concern for New Hope associates. ...

21 Jun - Volunteering on New Hope’s Board of Directors is Inspiring

Posted at 15:09h in New Hope Stories, The Year of Creativity, Volunteer Highlights 0 Comments

by Loraine Brown, NHI Board Member There is something special about New Hope of Indiana. Serving on the Board of Directors, every time I participate in our board meetings, assist in planning or attend a celebratory event like the Silver Cup Celebration, I am inspired! The leadership and staff exemplify a spirit of truly caring for those who receive services, their families and one another. To be inspired is to fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. Creativity is what New Hope does best, tapping in to the creative part of...

17 Jun - Taking on a Challenge – Together

Posted at 14:45h in Community and Corporate Partners, New Hope Stories, The Year of Creativity 0 Comments

It is our vision to serve "people of all ages to build a more inclusive community where all are welcomed, valued and living their best life." We are proud to be able to demonstrate that type of service through our AIM program. Seeking to achieve inclusion and meaning in the lives of program participants, AIM offers opportunities for clients to volunteer in their community, spend time learning how to navigate the social norms of our society, develop relationships with their peers and with others in the community and enjoy everything that the Indianapolis community has to offer them. AIM Manager, Amanda...

14 Jun - Mission Minute: Small Miracles

Posted at 19:54h in Mission Minute, New Hope Stories 0 Comments

by Kathe Rae, Manager of Mission Integration and Volunteers “Never stop believing in hope because miracles happen every day.” Benny Hin Hope is one of the most important guiding forces in our lives, providing strength, optimism, passion, motivation, courage and so much more. Hope is essential during those stressful and challenging times. Yet, as this quote illustrates, it can be experienced in our daily lives if we are open to it. Miracles are not always spectacular and earth shattering, rather inspirational, memorable, touching and feel-good moments. As New Hope of Indiana is celebrating being named an...

28 May - Another Great May in Indy

Posted at 18:59h in Community and Corporate Partners, New Hope Stories, Volunteer Highlights 1 Comment

We are so glad to be a part of the Indianapolis community, especially this time of the year. For over twenty years, New Hope clients have been able to take part in the Indy 500 festivities through another initiative, Friends of the Fox. Started by Indy car driver Stan Fox and race car driver Jack Kerwin after sustaining traumatic brain injuries while racing, Friends of the Fox seeks to give individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in the traditions of May in Indy. Today, New Hope volunteers, Bill Ray and Ron Kucer, continue the legacy of Stan Fox and...

28 May - Finding Opportunities for Growth

Posted at 15:24h in New Hope Stories 0 Comments

By Denise Caudill Irons I knew it would happen, but I did not expect it to happen so quickly. Since my public declaration last month of being a control freak, I have been provided with “opportunities for growth.” In other words, situations presented themselves where I was encouraged to release the white-knuckled grip that I attempt to have over my daughter’s life. The first revelation occurred at my daughter’s check-up with Dr. Escobar. I alerted him prior to the appointment about concerns I had with her behavior. My list of observations and worries were documented and ready to be discussed. I was...

08 May - Why do you like art?

Posted at 18:29h in New Hope Stories, The Year of Creativity 0 Comments

by Adria Schrack, AIM Participant Art - we each have a passion for it. We all love it and have some different ways to show it. Drawing is a great way to show it. Art is amazing in different ways. It's a good thing to express yourself. Creativity is cool since you don't know what you're going to make. Drawing you can make anything that is in your mind like animals, plants, self portraits. Creativity is in your hands. You can sculpt anything you put your mind into it. Music is another piece of art. You use your hands and voice...

30 Apr - Unbridled Creativity

Posted at 16:49h in New Hope Stories, The Year of Creativity 1 Comment

by Denise Caudill Irons I am a control freak. Everyone who knows me is quite aware of my problem. I no longer go through the trouble of trying to hide it. My self-diagnosed condition worsened after learning of my daughter’s diagnosis. Part of the issue stems from the regret and guilt that I feel for not pursuing answers to her delays and seeking treatment at an earlier age. Some of the problem is the fear that if I drop the ball, she will not receive the best care possible nor achieve her potential. The rest...

30 Apr - Dan the Man

Posted at 16:35h in Client Profile, New Hope Stories 0 Comments

Dan Devries' life profoundly changed in 1978 when he was involved in an accident and sustained a traumatic brain injury, requiring a lengthy hospitalization and significant rehabilitation. However, throughout the years, Dan has not let that define his outlook on life. Prior to the accident, he was a loner, which is hard to believe for those who know him to be very social and outgoing today. In 1988, Dan moved into the residential facility and he resided on Beta Hall, which was the designated unit for persons who had experienced a traumatic brain injury. When the facility was downsizing to...

26 Mar - New Hope Presents John Pearson with Partner in Service Award

Posted at 19:44h in Community and Corporate Partners, Events, New Hope Stories 0 Comments

At New Hope's inaugural Silver Cup Celebration, emcee Anne Marie Tiernon recognized New Hope's event sponsors and reminded the audience that these sponsors are investing in the good of their communities. A great way to decide where to shop is to learn which companies care about the things that are important to each of us. New Hope has been fortunate to have countless partners in the Indianapolis community who have offered their time, talent and treasure to support our mission, and we have been searching for a way to honor them as outstanding corporate and community partners. We are so excited...

26 Mar - Actions Speak Louder than Words

Posted at 18:25h in New Hope Stories 0 Comments

by Denise Caudill Irons Before I had a daughter with a diagnosis, I was not familiar with the special needs community. My education had a slow beginning, but grew as I needed more information. I am fortunate to have access to knowledgeable people who helped guide me along the way. Now, by being open and transparent about our experiences, I hope that we are enlightening others who are not as directly impacted. My approach to providing awareness has evolved over time. Before I could become an advocate for my daughter and the special needs community, I...

15 Mar - Celebrating Disability Awareness Month

Posted at 15:30h in New Hope Stories 0 Comments

by Adria Schrock, AIM Client Disability Awareness Month means a lot to me since I have a disability. Imagine if you had a disability, what would you think and how do you think others would treat you? In this article I will tell you what to do and such. First things first, just be yourself. Make new friends and hang out with people. We don’t want to be alone in the world. People with disabilities are just the same as everyone else and we want to be included as well. Disability Awareness Month means so much more to me since we...

25 Feb - Bingo is Back!

Posted at 17:12h in Community and Corporate Partners, New Hope Stories, Volunteer Highlights 0 Comments

For over twenty years, Kiwanis has sponsored a monthly Bingo night for individuals served by New Hope of Indiana. The North Central Kiwanis Club started and coordinated Bingo for most of those years, and New Hope is so appreciative of their dedication. Thankfully, when that club decided to dissolve their chapter, another club, Northwest Indy Kiwanis graciously offered to sponsor Bingo night so that this favorite New Hope monthly activity could continue. This club also has long-time involvement with New Hope and provided an annual cookout for the group home program for many years. Club member...

25 Feb - Shifting My Script

Posted at 16:12h in New Hope Stories 2 Comments

By Denise Caudill Irons, NHI Parent and Board Member Without looking beyond the title, I recently enrolled in a webinar on self-care. At the time, I assumed it focused on helping my daughter become more independent with her self-care, which was not the case. The discussion was for the self-care of caregivers. Honestly, my attention to this topic is non-existent. Although I have no problems advocating for my daughter, I am at a loss at advocating for my own needs. Most of the self-care topics were what I expected. However, I was unprepared when the...

15 Feb - Service Spotlight: Patrick Mitchell

Posted at 20:35h in New Hope Stories, Service Spotlight, The Year of Creativity 0 Comments

Nearly five years ago, a friend of Patrick Mitchell’s, who was also a New Hope associate, encouraged Patrick to apply for a position in New Hope’s FCS Program. At that time, Patrick had a full-time job elsewhere but applied at New Hope and was hired as a DSP in the FCS Program. A year later, Patrick was promoted to the Team Leader position in FCS. When given the opportunity to lead the Vocational Services program, Patrick was especially interested since one of the individuals he served in FCS was also served in Vocational Services. Patrick quickly...

28 Jan - A New Perspective

Posted at 21:42h in New Hope Stories 1 Comment

by Denise Caudill Irons, NHI Board Member and Parent Writing a monthly blog has compelled me to review the unexamined perceptions that I have accepted throughout my life. I have worked hard to maintain the image and ideals of what I think my life should be. After years of desperately not wanting to change, I am surrendering to a new and different perspective. No longer do I have the energy to reconcile societal norms that no longer apply to my world. One of my daughter’s therapists told me, “It’s not right or wrong; it’s just different.” ...

21 Jan - NHI Welcomes Mizzou Volunteers

Posted at 14:16h in New Hope Stories, Volunteer Highlights 0 Comments

Last week, New Hope was fortunate to host nine students from the University of Missouri who chose to volunteer a week of their time on winter break as part of the school's Alternative Breaks program. These students came to us from all backgrounds and with varied interests, but they all left feeling a similar sense of service and gratitude. Mizzou junior, Alexia Diamond, wrote: To be able to serve is a wonderful feeling. A very humbling experience for most. The people that I’ve met at New Hope of Indiana taught me a lot about myself and will have an impact on...

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