Gracious Grounds will celebrate the Grand Opening of its third location at Lakeshore Flats with a ribbon cutting and socially distanced car parade on September 10 at 4:00PM to welcome 25 new residents. Friends, family and the community are invited to hop in their cars and wave hello to our new residents from a safe distance. Gracious Grounds will also be accepting donations from its on-line “wish-list,” which stock a pantry of necessities and goods to be available to residents.
With this expansion, Gracious Grounds, a Grand Haven-based non-profit housing organization for adults with unique abilities, has more than doubled its capacity from 15 residents to 40, with additional apartments available for future residents. Mother to a new resident Bonnie Engers said, “Gracious Grounds at Lakeshore Flats is more than a new building complex. Just ask my daughter, who lights up when describing her new home, her new friends, a new journey…this is a wish that every parent has for their child.”
Residents range in age from 20 to more than 60 years-old and are able to manage day-to-day living skills including medication regimens, personal hygiene, and cooking. Most residents hail from the West Michigan area, although we have some from as far away as Pennsylvania. For many, Gracious Grounds is the first home that they’ve lived in away from their parents.
“We believe that independent living for those with unique abilities is attainable,” said David Burdo, Gracious Grounds Executive Director. “The opening of Gracious Grounds at Lakeshore Flats expands on our mission to provide our residents with an opportunity to live a more independent life where they are able to socialize and integrate themselves into a welcoming community.”
Gracious Grounds successful living model provides light support from Volunteer Resident Assistants (RAs), who live at each of the three properties. The RAs have full-time daytime jobs, yet also felt a calling to be an integral part of this journey. They do not provide 24-hour care, but are there overnight, accessible for emergencies and when help is needed, and to spend personal time in groups or with individual residents during planned outings or spontaneous activities.
A great way to get to know what Gracious Grounds is all about, is to participate our annual signature fundraising event on September 23, which will be hosted on the Gracious Grounds Facebook page. Tickets and sponsorships are available at graciousgrounds.org.
About Gracious Grounds – Established as a 501c3 in 2014, Gracious Grounds looks beyond limitations to create an environment that is affordable, friendly and resident-centered. The organization emphasizes life enriching activities and togetherness by promoting: community involvement, inclusion, employability skills and opportunities, daily living skills and spirituality. Gracious Grounds owns one property and master-leases two others, each offering a different level of semi-independent living for adults with special needs and serving a total of 15 residents, at the moment and growing to serve 50 residents in August, 2020.
Please visit
graciousgrounds.org for more information.
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To schedule interviews or for further information, please contact:
David Burdo, Executive Director
david@graciousgrounds.org
Katie Appold, Board President
katie@domoregood.org