Supporting adults with disabilities to enjoy active and fulfilling lives.

“REMEMBER THAT THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE ARE NOT THOSE GETTING MORE, BUT THOSE GIVING MORE.”
– H. JACKSON BROWN, JR.

I think Dan Klawes, the Store Manager at our Goodwill Store & Donation Center in Waukesha really must be the happiest person. Why? Because he is so giving and supportive of our Community Opportunities Club (COC) West and Waukesha Adult Center. We do see each other quite often as these two services and the store and donation center are located the same building and we are so thankful to Dan and his staff.

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You never know what you will find in a Goodwill store, but you know that it will be great especially if our Community Opportunities Club (COC) West participants had a hand in it.

During the month of September the Goodwill Store & Donation Center in Waukesha displayed a different DIY craft theme each week and they enlisted the crafty COC West participants to help. They were given a list of items they could collect from the store to create their DIY projects.

DIY Projects Included:

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Jessica J. is a participant at Goodwill’s Community Opportunities Club (COC) West located in Waukesha. She is very Interested in a career in the childcare field and she has been attending Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC), working hard to earn the first part of the Child Care Certification.

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With our winter weather dragging on and on, the staff and participants at Community Opportunities Club–West spent several hours planning our first Cabin Fever Fest.

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The Goodwill Center for Work and Training – Southwest Campus (GSC) hosted the annual Day Services Holiday Bazaar for the third year in a row. Each center was able to set up two tables for their crafts and treats, and the space at GSC provided an area for all the shoppers to be treated to free hot apple cider and snacks.

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The Community Opportunities Club (COC) West located in Waukesha was excited to host the first “All Center Mother’s Day Craft Event” on May 10. Our participants and staff had quite a bit of prep work to do prior to the big event! COC North graciously donated 50 white bags to us and the COC West team began to assemble them together the day before. Each bag included a flower pot (shaped as a teacup or a teapot) that our participants would be able to decorate, plus many other items.

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For many years, Robin was a Recreation Assistant at the Community Opportunities Club (COC) North, which is part of our Day Services program. The participants there loved working with her. Oftentimes she made wonderful meals, special treats for holidays and other celebrations at the club. Cooking was a passion for Robin. For a long time she dreamed of opening her own restaurant. Last year, she finally did!

But, let me tell you a little bit more about Robin. She grew up in the West Allis area, learning to eat what was fresh and was taught that canning the best foods was important as well— even in the off season. In 1985 Robin married a Sailor from the East Coast who was born and raised on a five-generation dairy farm. And that's how she came to be known as “The Farmer's Wife!”

Fast forward to 2017 when she opened “The Farmer’s Wife,” which was an older home converted into the restaurant. It’s located on the corner of West Mitchell Street and South 66th Street, and you can see the West Allis Farmer’s Market from inside the restaurant. If you are looking for unique cuisine that includes local produce and other items, this is the place for you. You’ll be treated to menu items like Lobster Roll and Stuffed Quahog. According to Robin and Dick, “Local means Wisconsin made and grown and this is so important to us at "The Farmer's Wife." At least 95% of our product comes from right here in Wisconsin. That's what it is all about.”

Once our members of the COC West found out about the restaurant, they decided to check it out. And, boy were they impressed! They enjoyed an excellent lunch from the former Goodwill employee, who they remember with fondness —not only for her great cooking but also for her fun-loving attitude at Goodwill!

I’m guessing COC South group will be making a trip to “The Farmer’s Wife” very soon!

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Sarah H., Carleen D. and Lorraine L., Goodwill Community Opportunities Club members, had a fresh, fun and fabulous tour of  Waukesha Floral & Greenhouse on Prairie Avenue back in April.  They viewed the beautiful atrium decorated with seasonal items, cooler room filled with available floral selections,  and the greenhouse and the warming house with the variety of potted flowering plants.  They learned about the different “seasons/times” that the floral shop prepares for throughout the year.

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This month, the Community Opportunities Club West members wanted to create mosaic pieces in art class. So Jared M. and staff went to Home Depot to purchase the plywood needed for the art project, and Jared helped pick out the smoothest and flattest piece of two-foot by six-foot plywood board. Club members were excited to take part in this activity and each of them was able to choose one of the following designs: a bird, two rubber duckies, a skull, a dog’s head or a cat’s head. Our staff was able to easily draw the designs and cut the pieces with a skill saw (Especially Jared; he loves to help out in any way with projects around the club). Read More

Goodwill’s Community Opportunities Club West (COC), part of our Day Services program, has taken on a “giant” project. For the past few months staff and participants have been creating a giant Jenga game as part of their wood working class.

First, they visited Home Depot and purchased 2x4 planks of wood. Then, they calculated the correct lengths (10.5 inches for each tile), marked the boards, and hand sawed them. Next, they sanded down the rough edges, chose the stain color and finally began the staining process. By working on this project our participants enhanced their gross motor skills, creativity and decision making process. 

Another great benefit of making this giant Jenga game; it will be one of the many pieces COC West will create for the annual Holiday Bazaar on November 17, 2016. The Holiday Bazaar helps to raise funds for each Goodwill center and proceeds from the sale are utilized for participant activities and other materials needed to enhance the success of our programs. Last year, they created and sold a variety of hand-made items and baked goods, so I can’t wait to see what else they will make for 2016!

You may think we are starting projects rather early, considering the craft fair is months away, but big projects require big planning and COC West is on top of it!

If you missed our event last year, don’t worry. Just send me an email at Leslie.Chisholm@goodwillsew.com if you are interested in attending the Holiday Bazaar this year.

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