The Raised Bed Garden ProjectThrough a collaboration with LSU Tiger Business Service, Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank and HOPE Ministries raised bed gardens are maintained by program participants of The Arc Baton Rouge. Students with the LSU Tiger Business Services helped to develop this "Social Entrepreneurship" venture, which led to the design and construction of the beds. The beds are designed to provide access to individuals who use wheelchairs and walkers. Currently we have two locations and are working on the third. The gardens are planted, maintained and harvested by individuals at Metro Enterprises. 10% of the fresh produce harvested is donated to HOPE Ministries pantry sites. The remainder is sold with the proceeds returning to those individuals working the gardens.
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| Registration table at 2011 Annual Meeting |
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Community Involvement
The Arc Baton Rouge promotes and encourages adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities to participate in their community. This could be through volunteer activities, an array of inclusive recreation programs, or community or individual social events. Our participants volunteer at nursing homes, school functions, food drives and Red Cross. We can assist a child with disabilities to attend BREC day camps.
By being involved our participants develop relationships with non-disabled peers and can also benefit deal from their experience. People gain an increased understanding of themselves, awareness and appreciation for their community. The experiences of being involved in community activities enhances an individual's personal goals, it also carries over into their home life. Self-esteem soars, they develop a feeling of empowerment, learn independence, socialization and achieve a sense of belonging.
The community is also served through the volunteer efforts. The community develops an appreciation of persons of diverse characteristics. They also develop respect for differences.
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| Participated in Dr. Hargroder's class at LSU |
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WE MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
Community Integration is a question of fundamental human rights and the quality of the lives of human beings. To claim that some people cannot learn, to place those same people in isolated institutions, and then to suppose that the dignity and well being of those people can be protected, let alone enhanced, is to deny history. And to suggest that some people cannot and should not live amongst their fellow human beings is to deny our shared humanness.
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The Arc Baton Rouge
8326 Kelwood Avenue
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70806
Phone: 225.927.0855
Fax: 225.924-3935
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