November 8, 2021
connect our residents with the local community and develop work skills.
Mountain Shadows Outreach Services to Launch New Library of Things
by Sheryl Wilde
Exciting Things are coming soon to Mountain Shadows Outreach Services! In fact, a whole new Library of Things will be introduced in early 2022.
According to Wikipedia, a Library of Things is any collection of objects that can be loaned to others. Objects often include kitchen appliances, tools, gardening equipment, electronics, toys and games, art, science kits, craft supplies, musical instruments, and recreational equipment. The items are typically used only occasionally by borrowers and are often cumbersome to store, such as specialized cookware or niche technology items.
Says Arlene Galvan, Director of Program Development, Mountain Shadows Ancillary Services, “Outreach Services received a Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) compliance grant of over $12,000 from the Department of Developmental Services, which we will use to create this new Library of Things.”
The Day Program at Mountain Shadows Outreach Services (MSOS) serves 108 participants. The MSOS mission is to advance the growth of each individual’s abilities by enhancing life, leisure, and work skills that can lead to a more fulfilling, invigorating, and satisfying life.
MSOS provides programs to foster community integration, including mobility and job training, arts and crafts, computer games and classes, volunteer opportunities, and more.
“The Library of Things is a wonderful way of bringing the community and our Mountain Shadows Day Program participants together,” says Jeff Helmkamp, Program Supervisor.
“This is an important project for our Day Program. Community inclusion and involvement are priorities for us and our participants. We want to not be seen as just a program for the disabled, but as active members providing a needed service to our community.”
Arlene agrees, “Developing a Library of Things allows the MSOS setting to be further integrated into the greater community. It also allows MSOS participants to have an expanded opportunity to further engage in their community by providing a type of service that is a benefit to local residents.
“This type of program allows MSOS to take the first steps in becoming a community hub where MSOS and its participants are serving the North County community.
“At the MSOS Day Program, we think of various ways to provide our participants with opportunities to engage with their community and to learn various skills that maybe one day can lead them to seek competitive, integrated employment.
“This program will provide opportunities for any of our day program participants to learn these important employment skills. Furthermore, welcoming and serving community members means increased social connections to each of our participants, which in turn builds community and accomplishes a true sense of belonging.
“Community members will pay an annual fee to be able to borrow an item they need but don’t necessarily want to purchase. The member borrows items for a certain number of days and then returns the items.
“Members will be able to look through our catalog of items online. For example, if someone needs a power washer, they can go online, check it out, and then pick it up at Outreach.”
Adds Jeff, “If you’re cooking for the holidays, or for a large party, but you don’t have a mixer, or other equipment, or if you’re doing a gardening project, and you don’t have the right tools, you can come to us! By becoming a member of our Library of Things, you will be able to check out items that you need, and then return them to us. You won’t need to go out and purchase an expensive item that you’ll only use once.
“We’re now in the process of making a list of practical items that people might need, from kitchen and household tools, to gardening equipment, to camping supplies, to outdoor games, and more.”
“We plan to continue to expand the Library of Things program on a yearly basis,” says Arlene. “Specifically, we will be increasing the inventory of items we lend, increasing community membership, as well as one day offering paid work opportunities for individuals who have historically faced barriers to employment.
“We would like to gain community opinions about potential items we should purchase for our Library of Things.
“To let us know what type of items you would like to see available for lending at Outreach’s Library of Things, please go to this link: https://forms.gle/gUNgsGBfXQYmwVFY7.”
Our promise at Mountain Shadows Outreach Services is to strive to help each of our 108 participants discover new life possibilities and to live life to the fullest. We believe our new Library of Things will help us to fulfil this vision.