Supporting Local Food Insecurity
Thank you to The Big Lots Foundation for grant funding of $2,250 to help TradeWinds Services assist individuals in our community who face food insecurity. This grant will help support a specific group of food-insecure individuals and families with approximately 25 pounds of groceries each month. #BigLotsCares
Crown Point Community Foundation
Thank You, Crown Point Community Foundation, for the $5,000 grant awarded in September to support TradeWinds Community Pantry helping residents of Lake County who are food insecure. TradeWinds’ newest community outreach began this past June and has averaged 245 individuals / 200 families served in Northwest Indiana each distribution day. One in six people faces food insecurity daily. For over 50 years, our goal as a service agency has been to improve the health & well-being of those we serve & educate on inclusion & diversity. The pantry is an opportunity for situational job training for our clients and volunteers from local community organizations and individuals to help provide community service. With the help of the Crown Point Community Foundation, TradeWinds can do more for Lake County residents. For additional information on TradeWinds Community Pantry, visit https://www.tradewindsnwi.org/community/community-pantry/
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TradeWinds Services recently received a grant award from InTRAC to support our Deaf Services program. This funding will help with home safety, advocacy, and social activities to help enhance the quality of life for individuals who are deaf and hard-of-hearing in Northwest Indiana.
Community Giving Supporting TradeWinds Gardening & Healthy Eating project.
A learning and participation activity at TradeWinds: children of varied abilities from Childcare and adults with disabilities are helping with the care and harvest of healthy foods grown in our many gardens on patios and at our homes. The Whole Foods Market Community Giving grant funding is helping support this ongoing learning experience that leads to increased activity and a healthier lifestyle.
Thank You for Supporting TradeWinds
Strack and Van Til Food Market, their cashiers and customers raised $29,579 during the Checkout Challenge for TradeWinds Services May 16-29. The monies raised will go towards children and adults with diverse abilities for camps, art projects, community outings and life experiences. Pictured here, from left to right, Dave Wilkinson COO of Strack and Van Til Food Market, Lisa Tatina, Director of Donor Development and Marketing and TradeWinds Services and Jeff Strack, CEO and President of Strack and Van Til Food Market.
TradeWinds Services received new grant funding to help with the costs associated with emergency preparedness and training drills at our facility. We will be able to purchase and install proactive safety precautions and equipment for our classrooms and offices at the main facilities. Every day we are trusted to provide a safe and secure environment; preparation and training drills for different types of emergencies are essential to safeguarding our clients and the staff who provide services for them; it is a responsibility of the highest priority. This additional funding will help offset some of these necessary safeguards; it will help us achieve our goal of maintaining a secure, safe environment. These activities will be made possible, in part, by a grant from the Legacy Foundation and the Crown Point Community Foundation COVID-19 Response Funds. Thank you to both foundations for the support.
On Thursday, February 10th, Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch was in the Region to support local candidates and took time from her busy day to come see our operation at TradeWinds Services. Thank you so much for taking the time to visit with our clients, see our facility, and for taking a great interest in what we do. And thank you to our local officials for supporting individuals of varied abilities.
Supporting the health and safety of its participants, employees, and visitors!
Thanks to NIPSCO for the $10,000 donation that TradeWinds used to upgrade the driveway at our TradeWinds East/Deaf Services building with a new circular drop-off for clients and visitors. The remaining funds will go toward purchasing a new van with a wheelchair lift for transporting our residents to and from different places in the community. The new circular drive provides a closer, safer access point for off-loading and loading to/from the building. The TradeWinds East building supports our Deaf Services department, staff, and people with disabilities who perform a variety of pre-vocational jobs for community businesses. This new drop-off location is away from the parking area, making it safer for parking TradeWinds vehicles. “The health and safety of our participants, their families, our staff, and visitors are a top priority at TradeWinds”, said CEO Jon Gold. “We have several hundreds of people of all abilities and ages entering and exiting our facility every day, and we want to take every precaution to keep everyone as healthy and safe as possible. This funding from NIPSCO will assist us in doing so.” The NIPSCO funds will also be used towards a passenger van with a wheelchair lift to transport TradeWinds residents with disabilities to/from TradeWinds for day services, jobs at the facility, or healthcare appointments – to improve social distance protocols and efficiency. The additional vehicle and alternating schedules will help increase future numbers served. TradeWinds serves people with special needs by empowering them to realize their full potential. “Health and safety of our customers and employees is a big priority for NIPSCO,” said Rick Calinski, Director of Public Affairs and Economic Development for NIPSCO. “We are proud to partner with TradeWinds to enhance the safety and wellbeing of all who enter their facilities. TradeWinds offers such great services in Northwest Indiana, and NIPSCO has been a proud supporter for decades. Assisting with the van purchase will also enhance the lives of many, and we are proud to be a part of that as well. “ Pictured are TradeWinds clients holding SAFETY FIRST signs, Megan Henning, NIPSCO – Project Communications Lead, Lisa Tatina, Director of Donor Development & Marketing, TradeWinds Services, Inc., Jon Gold, TradeWinds Services CEO. If you would like to learn more about TradeWinds, or to donate – please visit our website at www.tradewindsnwi.org/donate or call Lisa Tatina at 219.945.3116
This new grant funding is to help meet the immediate, essential, and acute needs of as many people as quickly as possible. The funding will assist with the cost of additional transportation needs, improving the safety of our participants while practicing social distancing to and from our center every day or to jobs in the community. The grant funds will also allow for the final installation of air purifiers in the remaining portion of our buildings to enhance the health and safety of our participants and employees. Additionally, these funds will help us provide monthly Food Bank Pantry Pack boxes for 50 families assisted by TradeWinds. This grant was made possible by United Way of Northwest Indiana (UWNWI) and Indiana United Ways with funding provided by Lilly Endowment Inc.
TradeWinds Community Employment for People with Disabilities
TradeWinds Employment Services program is committed to increasing the employment rate of people with disabilities by focusing on abilities. TradeWinds is an Indiana FSSA Vocational Rehabilitation Services & BDDS Waiver provider, facilitating training, coaching & guidance for clients seeking community employment & for community employers. Newly received grant funding from First Financial Foundation will help supplement some of the services provided by TradeWinds like client advocacy, employer education, case management assistance with community resources, and staff training for effectively assisting clients. We prepare individuals of varying abilities 18 and over seeking part or full-time employment in Northwest Indiana to obtain and sustain employment. An untapped pool of skilled workers people who have a disability are capable of many different jobs. The community gains more diversity and inclusion in the workforce. If you are an employer interested in learning more about our program, contact Michelle Novak at 219-801-4500, or email: info@tradewindsnwi.org.
TradeWinds provides services for children and adults with physical and developmental disabilities
Learn MoreEstablished through philanthropy and volunteer support, your donations, time or talents to TradeWinds helps people with disabilities achieve greater independence, dignity and personal freedom.
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