Location: The Arc Fond du Lac
Job: Seasonal Work
Today, we had the opportunity to work in the Community Enrichment Program (CEP) at The Arc Fond du Lac. This was a refreshing and humbling experience.
The atmosphere at The Arc Fond du Lac is enthusiastic, light, and filled with optimism. The clients welcomed us like no other group. They were interested in us and wanted to learn all they could.
I, Tracy, played a riveting game of Kismet (think Yahtzee) with four clients of varying ability. During the game, we asked each other about our likes/dislikes, favorite shows and team…really we just had a great conversation.
Jillian played games that were a bit more competitive…Scrabble and Jenga. The conversation at her table was also uplifting, learning what drives those clients and makes them happy.
Together, we learned one client is a die-hard Chicago sports fan; another is about to be an uncle for the third time, and he is SO happy about it; and yet another has a grandma who comes in and helps them make Native American dream catchers (it is part of her heritage). Hearing these stories was so inspiring and we both tried to think of other ways we could volunteer or assist in some way. The clients have a special way of pulling you in. In all honesty, it was hard to leave after our shift.
We had a nice conversation with Nancy. She works in the CEP and says she finds great joy in assisting clients become more self-sufficient, learn new skills/tasks, and tap into their special interests. She said she loves her job.
To work in this field, the ideal candidate is caring, compassionate, full of patience, a good listener, calm, and flexible. These characteristics hold true for both volunteers and employees.
Good news…. they’re hiring! At the time of this post, they’re looking for a direct support professional, residential care provider, and youth community enrichment coordinator. These positions come with paid training and flexible schedules. Wanna volunteer? There are so many ways to do so!
If you’re interested in any of these opportunities at The Arc Fond du Lac, check out their website at: https://arcfdl.org/
Tracy is the Senior Director of Marketing and Communication at Envision Greater Fond du Lac.
Jillian Saiberlich is the Membership Coordinator at Envision Greater Fond du Lac.
