Larkin Center adults say thanks

We, of the adult program of the Larkin Center, would like to thank the Elgin community for its support of our ninth yard sale. It is through the community's generosity in donating salable items that the members of the adult program were able to have another successful year. Each of us put forth the time and energy to collect, set up, display and assist the many treasure hunters who support our cause by way of their purchases.

We are a program that is funded by HUD and DHS dollars. However, these funds do not cover any extracurricular activities; and so we do our own fundraising, which gives us a sense of pride and accomplishment by earning the money ourselves.

Many people in the community may think that the Larkin Center is an agency that deals with children and teens. To an extent this is true. However, it also extends services to adult clients who because of abuse, neglect, abandonment and some kind of mental disorder are unable to make it by themselves in the real world.

The analogy that can be used is that we are trying to swim the river of life and our mental illness disorder acts as a weight pulling us down as we swim. The program attempts to strengthen each of us so we are able to attain as much independence as possible.

Our major activity for the year is spending a few days at a Christian camp in Wisconsin. This adventure provides us with a sense of community and a chance to practice social skills and relationship skills that we are taught throughout the year in the weekly groups we attend at Larkin Center.

This trip often provides many of us with our first camping experience, of leaving the state of Illinois and an opportunity to get in touch with nature and their relationship to it. We are grateful that with the help of the community, we are able to enjoy watching sunrises and sunsets over the lake, go hiking, go fishing, go boating and enjoy sitting the campfire.

Clients of the Larkin Center

adult programs

Elgin