TEXARKANA, Texas - Evergreen Life Services in Texarkana, a nonprofit organization that provides a range of jobs and professional services to people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, has moved into a new building on Walnut Street.
Evergreen has been providing services in East Texas since 1989. They provide 24-hour direct care staff in nine community homes locally and offer a day program.
In June they moved from an old church building to a much-improved building that formerly housed Temple Memorial Rehabilitation Center. The cost of the building, renovations and more is about $1 million.
The new building enables them to expand their programs.
Some of these programs include their supported employment services, prevocational skill development and vocational training, art studio and gallery, computer and technology center, music room and library.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the vulnerable population they serve, however, the grand opening has been delayed until everyone can participate safely. They also have had to close their day program for the time being.
Evergreen depends on state and federal funding to cover basic costs and to provide residents with basic needs, such as food, clothing, medical care, hygiene items and more.
But Evergreen's mission is to provide its residents with a life beyond basic human needs.
This includes not only things like taking trips and buying gear to participate in a softball league, but things that would seem like basic needs that aren't state or federally funded - like dental costs.
"If there's some sort of dental service that's not covered by Medicaid, which a lot of our people need every year, those are costly expenses that Evergreen covers if it's necessary," Director of Donor Relations Amber Keith said.
To cover these costs, Evergreen heavily relies on fundraising and donations.
"The things that Medicaid does not cover medically comes out of our operation budget," Program Supervisor Jay Barentine said. "This is something, as far as donations go, that would really help us. We are required to provide at least one dental care evaluation a year, and with people with disabilities, this often requires IV sedation for them to sit still and let someone basically stick their hands down their throats. And it's over $1,000 for 45 minutes of IV sedation, which is out of our budget."
According to Keith, fundraising efforts such as events and in-person meetings with prospective donors, as well as speaking opportunities with civic groups and churches, have all been canceled or postponed because of the pandemic.
Additionally, there are few East Texas foundations offering grant opportunities at this time. This, coupled with the substantial increase in cost to provide masks and disinfectant cleaning supplies for the community homes, staff and those served, has made the need to raise additional financial support more important than ever.
This funding from donations would also be needed to elevate the day programs offered once the new building opens to be fully operational.
These plans include, but are not limited to, fencing in their back lot, building a greenhouse, offering equipment for a workout center and buying furniture. All plans are in an effort to provide a comfortable life for their residents.
"In order for us to provide an amazing art program, a horticulture program, a music room and these programs on an elevated level that would match somewhere like Dallas or Austin, we rely on those donations," Keith said. "Medicaid doesn't pay for art supplies, computers or a greenhouse, so donations help provide critical services, like dental care, but also our programs.
"Evergreen depends on the generosity of concerned community members, civic organizations and foundations to sustain our commitment to the health, safety and comfort of those entrusted to our care."
(Contributions to support Evergreen's program expansion can be made online at evergreenbuilds.org/ or email Keith at [email protected] for more information or to schedule a tour of the new facility.)