Richcroft Awarded Grant from the Dresher Foundation
Richcroft’s newest program, Community Development Services, has been awarded a grant from the Dresher Foundation to support the expansion of services for individuals living in Harford County. The popular program, which launched in June of 2022, aims to empower individuals with disabilities to develop their independence and become more active, engaged and valued members of the community. In a little over 15 months, the CDS program has grown to serve more than 41 individuals in 4 counties, and this funding from the Dresher Foundation supports our plans for expansion in 2024!
“Meaningful Day Programs play a crucial role in the lives of people with disabilities,” says Rachel Kollasch, Director of Day Services for Richcroft. “There has always been a need for more day program options here in Maryland and around the country. The pandemic shutdowns increased this need. When it became safe to start going back into the community, one of the first things we did as an organization was start to plan and build our day program.”
“The CDS Program is unique,” says Rachel, “because it operates without walls – 100% in the community, 100% of the time. We work to identify each individual’s wants, needs, and leisure interests, and then pair them with others who have similar likes and interests.” Working out at the gym, playing kickball with the guys, volunteering in the community, swimming at the Y, catching an O’s game with friends, lunch and manicures, community fairs and festivals – these are just some of the activities the day program participates in and truly are personalized to each individual.
With funds from the Dresher Foundation, we will be able to purchase a new wheelchair-accessible minivan, which will be used to transport individuals and groups to and from daily activities. “This state-of-the-art wheelchair-accessible minivan is one of 3 vehicles we hope to add to the CDS fleet this fall,” says Kevin Drumheller, Richcroft’s CEO, mentioning that in conversations with DDA, programming of this type was one of the biggest unfilled needs for people with disabilities following the pandemic. “As part of Richcroft’s FY24 Strategic Plan, we are working to expand the CDS Day Program to an additional 30-35 individuals over the next 12 months – nearly doubling the program in size,” says Drumheller.
From the very beginning and throughout our conversations, the Dresher Foundation was interested in learning more about Richcroft’s services, especially the expansion of the CDS Program. The Dresher Foundation focuses its grantmaking primarily on non-profit organizations that serve Harford County residents, with a particular interest in strengthening programs that improve the quality of life for all individuals. We are extremely grateful to the Dresher Foundation for their commitment to providing hope and supporting our efforts toward creating a more inclusive and accessible community!