Helping Valencia County Seniors: Marisela’s Grant

Marisela, staff member at Adelante’s Adventures Valencia County day program, was awarded a Kivitz Innovation Fund grant to create care bags for seniors in her community. The project also offered volunteer and creative opportunities for the people with disabilities who Marisela works with. Marisela called her project “Adventures in Friendship 2024.” Once awarded, the Adelante Valencia County Adventures team got quickly to work creating care bags for local seniors. Clients in the program used stencils and paint to create custom designs for 30 bags. Later, those bags were delivered to seniors at Belen Meadows Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. Not only were they beautiful, the bags contained helpful gifts for the Valencia County seniors. Items like hand lotion, socks, a scarf, and a beanie were included.

As a second-time innovation grant recipient, Marisela is gaining project management skills while helping the community. She is helping our clients learn to do that, too. Marisela worked on time management and using resources wisely. Additionally, she developed her leadership and training skills, motivating the people with disabilities who worked with her to learn new skills. Of course, they were included in the delivery, too, so they could see the results and their positive impact on the seniors. In her grant application, Marisela said that she wanted clients to gain confidence from creative thinking, learning, and self-expression. Furthermore, they were given the opportunity to build good character by helping seniors in the community.  

Adelante is so proud of this wonderful work in support of Valencia County seniors. Through this project, both our staff and clients helped move our community forward. Thanks for leading the effort, Marisela!