ENRICHING AND EMPOWERING LIVES

Welcome to First Christian Day Services

WRITTEN BY SARAH SMITH

First Christian Day Services (FCDS) provides an environment where adults, from age 18 to retirement, with mild to moderate developmental disabilities can enjoy recreation and leisure, vocational habilitation, and paid work crew experiences. As a ministry of First Christian Church in Canton, the organization offers programming Monday through Friday that centers around five pillars — faith, fitness, arts, outings and employment.

“One of the key drawing points of our program is that we are faithbased,” said Reena Riley, Day Services Director. “We have weekly faith lessons with Pastor Tim Bussey that are specifically tailored to the individuals we serve. We also provide monthly worship times that incorporate motions and sign language as well as daily morning devotions.”

“Our family longed to plug my brother into a day program that was fun and relevant for him,” Sara H. said. “A faith-based environment where he can be loved for being himself was important to us. This program offers both!”

FCDS considers inclusion in the community a priority. Outings are a key piece of each week, taking into consideration the ideas and desires of its participants. The organization also considers itself to be a training ground and launching pad for those who are on its work crews. Employment plays a key role in the development and is a place where individuals can gain realworld experience and skills. FCDS believes that honoring the dignity of individuals is very important, so those employed in the housekeeping and maintenance and food service work crews start out at minimum wage.

“I love being here for work and feel good about myself when I earn my paycheck. I have made good friends, and I like helping them out,” exclaimed Jerome W.

FCDS is passionate that the individuals aren’t just integrated in their community but are included. Through the monthly Ministry Initiative, participants give back to the community. This ranges from collecting food items for the church’s on-site pantry, collecting laundry pods and dryer sheets for The Laundry Project ministry, giving gift cards for coffee to hospital workers, making cards for nursing home residents, collecting school supplies for underserved populations or simply crafting an encouraging note to go in bags that are distributed to people without homes. Participants have made connections with the Akron/ Canton Regional food bank and their pop-up-pantry; they deliver meals to shut-ins through Meals on Wheels and collect recyclables for processing.

With a packed daily calendar, no one is ever sitting around waiting for something to do. Each day is structured like a school schedule with a 9 a.m. start and dismissal at 2 p.m.

FCDS focuses on key areas of growth and development: self-advocacy, selfdetermination, skill reinforcement, personal care and more.

Self-determination is the individual’s ability to be offered choices and then to choose what they want. Self-advocacy is the ability for an individual to say what they want.

At FCDS, individuals are given the ability to make choices throughout the day. They are supported by the staff in making those choices, whether verbally, through touching pictures, sign language or using their eyes to gaze at what they want. Skill reinforcement is something that happens consistently throughout the week and is done on an individual basis. Everyone has different things they want to work on while at FCDS. This can range from assistance with communication or mobility devices, fine motor skills, counting money or learning how to better interact with their peers. Personal care encompasses personal hygiene, eating, mobility, dressing and more.

“In the two years since I started working here, my dad saw how much I changed. My changes have brought new hope to my family. My dad now calls me the leader,” Al S-H. proudly stated.

“Our day program is not here to solely give our individual’s guardians a break. We provide a crucial service by physically, emotionally and spiritually investing in their lives. We believe the environment we provide is ministry; this is kingdom work that has made an impact on our individuals, their families and their community,” Riley added.

FCDS employs 36 and has been operating since Sept. 6, 2011. The company serves 66 individuals and is currently hiring more Direct Support Professionals (DSP) and drivers.

First Christian Church’s mission statement is to reach out with unconditional love to all people and grow followers of Jesus with a vision statement that proclaims Jesus For All People.

More information can be found at www.firstchristian.com/dayservices or by calling 330-456-2600. First Christian Church is located at 6900 Market Ave. N., Canton.

We Believe Jesus is for All People. That means He’s for you. Your past doesn’t disqualify you. Your current circumstances don’t limit God’s desire to work in and through your life. And your future isn’t dictated by your record, your reputation or your reservations. Wherever you are today, you matter to God, and there’s a place for you in His family. FCC is a place where people from all walks of life come together to discover grace, find meaningful community and live with purpose. So, whether you grew up in church or have never been, we invite you to come as you are to experience “church” in a fresh way.