Consumers from the Tama County Opprotunity Center (TCOC) are keeping busy as spring rolls in with creating their one-of-a-kind gazing balls that can be purchased by the public and make great lawn decorations. Photo provided

The Tama County Opportunity Center (TCOC) is a busy place. Everyday 17 consumers and four staff members come to the center in downtown Tama, and not only do a variety of activities at the center itself, but also go out into the community and volunteer. The Tama County Opportunity Center is a day habilitation program for adults with intellectual disabilities. The Tama County Opportunity Center is run by Central Iowa Residential Services, Incorporated (CIRSI). CIRSI is a nonprofit and relies on grants and donations. “As a nonprofit organization, we rely on donations. Every little bit helps,” stated Director Jessica Pushetonequa. The South Tama County United Fund is proud to have been able to contribute financially to this group.

Most mornings at the Tama County Opportunity Center, you will find the Consumers creating their “signature” gazing balls, which can be acquired for a reasonable donation of $45.00, or creating place mats for the Toledo Senior Center or for the STC Prom. However, many of the afternoons are filled with a variety of volunteer opportunities in the community.

The consumers clean the cat cages twice a week at the Tama County Humane Society. Three times a week food donations are picked up from local business and are delivered to the food pantry, where, while there, the Consumers put food away on the shelves and the refrigerators. Once a month the Consumers hand out food at the food pantry. Every Monday, the Wieting Theatre is cleaned by the Consumers.

Two weeks out of the month, the Consumers deliver Meals on Wheels in Tama and, deliver food boxes in Tama-Toledo in conjunction with the Meals on Wheels program. Once a week the Consumers can be found at the STC Elementary school, where they clean the toys in two preschool rooms each visit. Director Pushetonequa stated, “We, as a staff, like to treat the Consumers as the capable adults that they are. Helping them have a positive role in the community is really important to us. We do that through the community by volunteering and helping them have independent and happy lives.”

In the afternoons, when they are not out volunteering, the Consumers might play games, do puzzles exercise, dance, sew blankets or mittens, and make other gifts for families. They even play instruments in their own band. Recently the Consumers made mittens from old sweaters and delivered them to MICA. Old t-shirts are cut up as well and given to the Tama County Humane Society for rags. Old clothes that are not good enough to sell are given to the Consumers by the Clothes Closet for projects. The Clothes Closet has also given old buttons and bowling balls for the creation of the gazing balls.

When the weather was nice, the Consumers participated in “The Great Bike Challenge.” The TCOC has two, three-wheeled bicycles. The competition was to see who could accumulate the most miles. The first place winner traveled 53 miles while the fifth place winner logged 15 miles. Basketball is another favorite activity when the weather is nice. The Tama police and Tama fire station have a basketball hoop that they allow the Consumers to use.

Last summer, the Consumers were able to take a day trip with the help of the South Tama United Fund’s Grant. According to Pushetonequa, “With money that the STC United Fund gave us, we paid for transportation to the Des Moines Botanical Center. We had a gentleman in a wheelchair, and we were able to all go together.” Pushetonequa, also, stated, “As a nonprofit organization, we rely on donations. Every little bit help.” Other group outings in the past have been to the Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines and to the Gladbrook Theatre, which has graciously opened their doors to the Consumers and will show a 10:00 a.m. movie just for them.

Recently 7th grade Talented and Gifted Students (TAG) from the Beaman-Conrad School District came and gave a program to the Consumers about fire safety. Their assignment was to teach someone something new. After the presentation, the TAG students helped the Consumers make tie blankets.

Oh, about those gazing balls, as stated earlier they are a “steal” at $45.00. Spring is just around the corner, and a person might be thinking one of those gazing balls would look just great in one’s garden. It takes the Consumers a little over two weeks to create a gazing ball, so placing an order early would be a wise idea.

The Consumers indefatigable volunteerism make them a vital and welcomed presence in the Tama-Toledo area. Without their support, many jobs in the community would not be able to be done.

The STC United Fund a fund under the umbrella of the Tama County Community Foundation (TCCF ). The STC United Fund has helped up to 18 501 (c)(3) local agencies and nonprofit organizations in Tama County.

The TCCF has been created by and for the people of Tama County. The Foundation’s main goals are to support charitable projects and programs, to attract additional funds, and to assist donors in creating lasting legacies through a variety of giving options within the county. For more information about the TCCF, contact Brian Sokol, Chair of the Tama County Community Foundation, 641-484-2980, or Mary Fasse-Shaw, TCCF’s Development Associate at 641-751-5251.