Wow! What can we say, we are blessed to have had another successful year at EP!C. As you may know, our fiscal year runs from July 1st – June 30th and we have worked hard to ensure the success of the organization for the people we serve.
This year our new employment certification classes alone had 88 participants and 31 of those individuals are now employed and earning a paycheck. We had almost 500 community members join us for our Bon Appétit fundraiser this past March which generated a 26% increase in funds raised and had more than 650 volunteers donate over 5,000 hours of time to EP!C, which has an approximate dollar value of $130,000.
With a new year comes new challenges, new opportunities and new successes. We are excited for the future of EP!C and looking forward to another great year ahead.
EP!C Harvest is now offering a CSA program for individuals in the community to share EP!C’s harvest. From mid-July through October, individuals will be able to purchase a share of produce from the EP!C Harvest garden.
Either weekly or bi-monthly, you will receive 6-12 freshly harvested, in-season veggies. Some of the produce EP!C Harvest will be offering include: Heirloom Tomatoes, New Potatoes, Peppers, Carrots, Squash, Zucchini, Cucumbers, Sweet Corn, Onions, Hot Peppers, Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Beets, Kohlrabi, Melons, Various Fruits, Microgreens and Herbs.
What is a CSA?
“CSA” stands for Community Supported Agriculture. A CSA allows individuals to have direct access to high quality, fresh produce grown by our EP!C Harvest participants.
Delivery Dates
Weekly or Bi-Monthly, Mid-July through October (16 Weeks)
Pricing
Weekly – $500. Each week, you will receive a box containing 6-12 freshly harvested, in-season veggies.
Bi-Monthly – $300. Every other week, you will receive a box containing 6-12 freshly harvested, in-season veggies.
Ready to join?
Contact Katie Murphy at kmurphy@epicci.org or 309-689-3613 to get answers to your questions and to request sign-up materials.
Orlando Edwards was named our Employee of the Month for May 2018.
His nominator said, “He puts our individual’s needs, wants and happiness over everything…he coaches the EP!C Bulldogs Basketball team and is
working to start another!
Paige Moss is our Employee of the Month for June 2018.
It was said about Paige that her “observations of the classrooms have helped her to develop ways to assist our individuals in a more proficient way…she can bring people together to work as a team to accomplish their job duties.”
When Gabe first came to EP!C, he was a senior in high school participating in EP!C’s Harvest Program for students. Like many young adults, he was unsure of what he wanted to do with his life. Gabe’s teachers encouraged him to pursue his interest in EP!C’s Harvest Program. Gabe trained in the EP!C Harvest garden, where he learned soil preparation, planting, garden upkeep and maintenance, plant care, harvesting and preparing for the changing seasons.
Students enrolled in EP!C’s 12-week Horticultural certificate classes learn basic gardening skills including harvesting, plant health, germination and maintenance. Gabe’s interest and the knowledge he gained while participating in EP!C’s
Harvest Program helped him enroll in horticulture classes at Illinois Central College (ICC). While there, Gabe earned a certificate in Horticultural Studies and continued on to receive his Associate’s Degree.
EP!C’s certification courses in Horticulture, Culinary, Technology and Employment for Autism allow individuals to explore opportunities in a career field of their interest. While enrolled in classes, students build their portfolio and resume while learning relevant skills. As a testament to their new credentials, students receive a certificate upon completion of the course.
“I’m learning about perennials and have made friends at school” – Gabe Scurlock
Shirley Dust is our April Volunteer of the Month at EP!C! Shirley comes in on Tuesdays to volunteer in the classrooms and also assists with outings, even bringing her husband John along occasionally to volunteer! Shortly after she began volunteering at EP!C, she really wanted to do more to help the individuals so she completed the Direct Service Provider (DSP) training.
For more information on volunteer opportunities please contact Carmen McCarthy at 309-689-3606 or cmccarthy@epicci.org.
As EP!C’s responsibility and services continue to expand we need to reflect that in our website. While we use EP!CPeoria.org and EPICci.org interchangeably and they both take you to our current website, going forward we will be using www.EPICci.org. All of the staff emails have also been moved to this new format. Example: info@epicci.org.
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