Hope House Holiday in El Monte, CA

As the weather cools down and the holiday season approaches, Longo Toyota in El Monte, California, loves to work with various organizations in our area. Our goal through these partnerships is to highlight the unsung heroes of our community. One of our partners is Hope House. This wonderful organization works with community members who have autism, intellectual disabilities, and mental health concerns. It supports its clients and their families through various programs and services. 

For its clients, Hope House offers targeted behavior training, life skills training, and person-centered planning, among other services. The person-centered planning allows clients to create a personal picture of current and future goals. It also takes clients on life-skills training and other trips into the community to get them comfortable. The organization provides support for adults and children. Medical treatment is addressed as needed, and to ensure this support, residents receive annual exams, lab work, and dental work. These services are provided within 45 days of a new resident moving in. They are also provided within 45 days of a resident’s annual due date. Proper COVID-19 protocols are followed by all staff members to ensure the health and safety of the residents.

An equal amount of attention and resources is provided to the family members of clients. Hope House offers therapy and respite care services, so loved ones can spend time on themselves. It can also help with writing individualized education program goals and working with families to make sure there is an equal amount of participation with their loved ones. 

Image by Viscious-Speed is licensed with Pixabay license

Advocating for someone with special needs plays a vital role for family members, caregivers, and friends. There are opportunities to support at the local level through the school system. You can also advocate for the disabled community as a whole by keeping an eye on various bills and providing writing support for them. 

The holidays can be challenging for people with special needs and their caregivers. However, with some planning, families can enjoy the season. For instance, if there are concerns about reactions to specific gifts, you might send out recommendations for gifts the recipient would enjoy. You could also let people know about conversation topics to engage in and those to avoid. Thinking of ways to include the disabled in the preparations for the celebrations is also important. Perhaps they can sing a favorite song or add unique decorations to the area. 

Schedules are important during a busy event. A clear timeline allows party-goers of all abilities to know about and prepare for specific events. Disabled family members might be given a specific job, such as being a photographer or greeter, to get them comfortable around the event. Depending on individual needs, particular areas might be designated to allow for quiet time for people to recharge. Ensuring the room is equipped with activities and other calming influences can help in case anyone is overwhelmed during the event.

Another excellent opportunity to involve everyone is using technology to the fullest. For instance, if reading a book isn’t comfortable for someone, but reading electronically makes them happy, eBooks might be used. That would allow them to participate in the festivities without feeling overwhelmed or uncomfortable.

Along with providing several different tips to help the season run smoothly, the organization runs an annual toy drive. The goal is to ensure that all of their clients, especially those living in their different homes, have gifts to open during the holidays. The organization has six homes for children under the age of 18. Each property is home to children with a variety of special needs. The Hope House accommodates the largest group (15) with a variety of developmental disabilities as well as mental health and behavioral challenges. 

The Redstone and Halifax properties house four people each for those with autism and mental health concerns. The Holiday House and Park House are home to three people with developmental and mental health concerns. The MaryJo House is home to four children who lack hazard awareness. In addition to the properties for children, they have six properties for adults with mental health concerns and developmental disabilities. They also provide care for people living with seizures and physical disabilities. 

While the homes provide for the basic needs of their residents, the organization relies on the toy drive to brighten their clients’ holiday spirit. Typically, the properties need twin bedding, board games, pillows, blankets, and towels. Ideas for presents and the name and age of the person receiving them can be found on the Winter Holiday page of their website. If you want to donate a physical gift, you can take it to the Hope House office at 4215 N. Peck Road in El Monte. You can also drop off donations for the homes. If you have questions about where or when to drop off your contributions, you can call 626-747-9320.

Another option for donating to the toy drive and other programs throughout the year is doing so online through the Hope House website. You can choose a general gift or specify one for a specific program. The program also accepts vehicle donations and home items, toys, and other donations. It doesn’t cost to donate your vehicle. All you need to do is set up an appointment by calling 877-999-8322. The vehicles are used to transport individuals for group and solo trips into the community or to medical appointments.

Working with organizations in our community is a favorite pastime of many members of the Longo staff. We enjoy interacting with our community and greeting our neighbors. It is our pleasure to partner with the Hope House organization to ensure their residents and family members continue receiving the care they need. We also want to ensure they have an enjoyable place to call home. The staff of Longo Toyota looks forward to creating a bright holiday season for all our community members. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to us.

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