Community Link, Inc., serving individuals with developmental disabilities for more than 36 years, opened an Adult Day Programming Center on Monday [July 14] in St. Clair County. The Fairview Heights Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting Thursday at the facility, 9815 Bunkum Road.    

Community Link, founded as Clinton County Rehabilitation Center, has two similar training facilities in Breese, along with a sheltered workshop, and six small-group homes throughout Clinton and Madison counties. Programming serves residents in seven counties—Bond, Clinton, Fayette, Madison, Marion, St. Clair and Washington.

At the ribbon-cutting, Fairview Heights Mayor Gail Mitchell noted that two of his colleagues, Breese Mayor Don Maue and Germantown Mayor Jerry Kohnen, highly recommended Community Link as a community asset.

Community Link Executive Director John P. Foppe expressed appreciation to the city of Fairview Heights and the county of St. Clair for their welcome and support, saying, “We, from Clinton County, have always known the people from St. Clair County, to the west, are good neighbors.”

Foppe continued: “As an individual with a disability myself, I know how helpful it is to have community support—friends, neighbors, other citizens—reaching out with a helping hand. We live in a society that naturally expects family to care for someone with a disability, but our society does not always expect itself to do so. So, when communities like Fairview Heights and St. Clair County step up, welcome and support organizations like ours … that is a very good thing!

 Foppe noted that Community Link-Metro programming already has created 17 new jobs for area residents and puts into weekday service a building that, for nearly three years, has been relatively vacant. The 14,400-square-foot building sits on 5.34 acres.

 “Here, beginning Monday, we will be providing life-skills training for adults who are challenged by conditions such as Down syndrome, autism and cerebral palsy. The overall goal for these individuals is to increase their independence in doing common activities that many of us take for granted.” Initially, up to 80 adults will be learning personal skills, communications, socialization and basic job readiness.

Foppe, who became Community Link Executive Director on July 1, also expressed his appreciation to retired longtime Executive Director John J. Sedivy, for his insights; First Bank and the USDA Rural Development, for financing; Community Link Board of Directors, for their vision and advocacy; Parents & Friends of Specialized Living Center and Community Integrated Services, Inc., of Swansea, for inviting Community Link to be their service provider; South Central Transit, for extending transportation services into St. Clair County; Steve Schomaker and GRS Construction, for their technical expertise; and the agency’s administrative, programming and maintenance staff.

In conclusion, Foppe told the St. Clair County business community: “All of us at Community Link are thrilled to be your new neighbor. … Let’s get to know each other more. We welcome volunteers and interns. We welcome new clients. We welcome family members. We hope to see more of you—neighbor!”

For information about services, contact Barb Nelson, Adult Day Programs (ADP) director, 618-526-8800, BarbN@commlink.org, or Michele McDaniel, associate program director at Community Link-Metro, 618-397-1655, MicheleM@commlink.org. For information about jobs, internships, service learning or volunteering, contact Lora Weis, human-resources director, 618-526-8800, LoraW@commlink.org.

The programming leaders have longtime experience. Nelson earned her master’s in management from Webster University, has served as ADP director for 12 years and has been with the agency for 21 years; a Lebanon native, she resides in Aviston. McDaniel, whose bachelor’s is in education, has been employed by Community Link for 10 years, previously as staff development coordinator and originally as a program manager; she is a native and resident of O’Fallon.