The name says it all, according to Cody Harris with Sunflower Diversified Services. This nonprofit organization is truly diversified, serving infants, toddlers and adults with developmental disabilities and delays in Barton, Pawnee, Rice, Rush and Stafford counties.
Sunflower’s Early Education Center houses their Incredible Years Preschool program and the Tiny-K program, which serves students with developmental disabilities, speech delays, and physical, occupational and behavioral therapy needs.
Sunflower provides a full range of services, assuring a smooth transition from school to adult life. These include medical service coordination and support, residential services, and community employment and employment support.
“We’ve got so much going on,” Harris said, mentioning the transportation system, recycling center and the Westside Market/UPS Store at 5523 10th St. Sunflower’s Beautiful Minds Art Studio provides a creative outlet for clients, and some of their artistic creations can be purchased at the Market. The UPS Store is a for-profit business but also provides jobs for some of the clients Sunflower supports, Harris said.
Two of Sunflower’s major fundraisers are going on now, with tickets on sale for the 20th annual Sunflower Pancake Feed and the raffle drawing for a new Chevy Trailblazer Activ. The pancake feed is from 4-7 p.m. on March 30 at the Prince of Peace Parish Center and the drawing will take place at 6:45 p.m., although the winner dies not have to be present. Tickets for both may be purchased in advance by contacting Sunflower, 620-792-1321; at Westside Market, 5523 10th; online at www.sunflowerdiv.com; or at the door.
Proceeds from fundraisers such as these – and the Sunflower Gala in September – go to the Sunflower Diversified Services Foundation and help to pay for projects and needs not covered by insurance and general funding.
Basically, that includes things to help enhance clients’ lives in a positive way, Harris said. That can mean adding a wheelchair ramp to a residence, helping with medical and dental care, or buying adaptive equipment. Last year, Sunflower was the third-quarter recipient of charitable donations from members of the 100+ People Who Care in Barton County group, to assist is buying commercial-grade playground equipment for the Early Education Center.
“We’re grateful for our community and all the support that we’ve gotten from our community,” Harris said. “Without the support of our community, our nonprofit agency would not be where it is.”
