R-T Photo/Diane Lowrey
The Trenton Rotary Club has made a $4,000 contribution to the North Central Missouri College Foundation to help purchase furniture and other needed equipment for the learning commons in the recently-renovated Geyer Hall on the NCMC campus. Of the total amount, $2,000 was provided through a District 6040 Simplified Grant recent by the Trenton club while the remaining funds came from member donations. Pictured are, from left, outgoing Rotary President Steve Taylor, NCMC Foundation Director and Rotary Vice President Teresa Cross and Rotary President Gary Jordan.
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Mrs. Ebersold told about the learning center, which began as a not-for-profit organization to support preschool activities for handicapped youth. In 2000, property was purchased at 2600 Princeton Road with the goal of supporting employment for disabled adults. Funding was provided through the Department of Mental Health. “Real jobs for real pay” was the target of the program, which includes assembly work, mail processing, documentation destruction and professional sign making. There are 10 workers at the site who are paid based on production, a rate that has been approved for the site through 2018. There are also six others who work there in other capacities, including as job coaches.
But because of changes in rules and regulations, including a mandate to have all disabled individuals working in jobs within the community and receiving minimum wage, the program is no longer eligible for state and federal funding. Mrs. Ebersold noted that the program cannot meet that specific rule and, as a result, has lost $12,000 per month in funding. She said the center, due to assistance being received through SB 40 as well as private donations and money that has been put aside throughout the years, has elected to continue operation with out the public funding. She said the board has developed a five-year plan to keep the facility running. In the meantime, she is hoping that a change in the federal law can be made to allow the program to continue and to let the employees “be productive.”
Next week’s program chairman is Diane Lowrey. Current Rotary exchange student Maria Martinez and former exchange student Stefan Falge will present the program.