We are committed to meeting the need for a choice in community and home-based services to individuals with traumatic brain injuries (TBI), including adults and military TBI survivors, to regain their independence and rebuild their lives. The causes of brain injury are varied, and include motor vehicle accidents, strokes, falls, violence, substance abuse, and military combat injuries.

Our organization is working to bring awareness to the community of the effects of brain injury on individuals and their families, while providing services to guide individuals in rebuilding their skills to complete everyday tasks they were once able to do independently. Frequently, survivors are placed in nursing homes at a young age or left without a support system to help them cope with their disability and work toward a plan for rebuilding their lives. Our services prevent people from being inappropriately placed in nursing homes or institutional settings, or from becoming homeless, allowing survivors the dignity of living more independently.

We provide service coordination, independent living-skills training, and a day program that promotes the development of social and pre-vocational skills through classroom education, community volunteering, computers, art, home economics, horticulture; as well as social and recreational opportunities in the community. Our day-program members also coordinate a program educating students and the community on wildlife conservation with hands-on opportunities with rare wildlife. We also work to provide education, prevention, and awareness of brain injuries in school districts and local communities. We serve Yates, Seneca, Wayne, Ontario, Monroe, Livingston, Steuben, and Genesee counties.

Wish List

• arts and crafts items: paint, brushes, markers, scrapbooking supplies, jewelry kits, stamp kits, ceramic supplies, soap/candle-making supplies, all craft supplies
• computer equipment: workstation/laptop computers, printers, ink cartridges, scanner, copier, digital camera dock, digital camera, software, games, etc.
• educational items: workbooks on budgeting, math, and reading comprehension; word-find and crossword puzzle books, computer software and games, books in all areas
• gift certificates to movies, sporting events, and restaurants
• household furniture/items: microwaves, couch/sofa (new or gently-used), upholstered arm chairs, coffee table, end tables, table and floor lamps, TV, DVD player, electric stove, wall shelving, dishes, cups, toaster, toaster oven, outdoor grill, utensils, coffee pots, kitchen island on wheels, vacuum cleaner, etc.
• monetary donations
• office furniture: conference-room table and chairs, wall partitions, storage cabinets (wood or metal with locking capability)
• office supplies: paper, pens, calendars, folders, binders, mail supplies, postage, bulletin boards, dry-erase boards with markers, ink cartridges, etc.
• safety/health items: first-aid kits, fire extinguishers, helmets, wheelchair with raising foot pedals, grab bars
• social/recreational: board & card games, video game system with games, DVD movies, CD/tape/radio boom box, music CDs and tapes, books
• vehicle/van: to enable day-program members to access community resources and events, and to provide transportation for those giving school and community presentations.

Volunteers Needed

Board members interested in sharing skills and expertise in achieving our mission.

Student interns and volunteers in areas of human services/social work, psychology, marketing, public relations, music therapy, art therapy, pet therapy, speech therapy, occupational and physical therapy, and fundraising.

Volunteers to plan and implement special events.

Volunteers to share skills with day-program members, either in occasional presentations (such as woodworking, computers, cooking, horticulture, animals, jewelry making, scrapbooking); or in regular mentoring assistance with community outings and classroom activities.