How Christmas shopping could help support adults with development disabilities

'Adults in Motion' crafts fundraise their program From keychains to cards, members of ‘Adults in Motion’ have made keepsakes to help fundraise their program. Ashley Bacon explains.

A festive fundraising program is helping adults with developmental disabilities in Waterloo Region.

Members of Adults in Motion have been busy making keychains, cards and more for the holidays.

“We made mini Christmas trees, mini Christmas tree ornaments,” program member Cassie told CTV News.

Adults in Motion offers people with developmental disabilities a chance to learn new skills, socialize and be creative.

“These are folks who are looking for something interesting, exciting to do with their days, looking to learn new skills, maintain skills and a lot of social friendships and socializing,” explained executive director Shelley Murphy.

Sale proceeds will go directly back into the program.

“It can be for admissions into different events, it can be for more outings, it can go towards supplies,” said Murphy. “Our members are really driving the decision as to what the money raised goes towards.”

Devitt House in Waterloo has offered to sell the goods.

“I saw how very hard [Adults in Motion] worked to keep [the program] alive and to provide for their participants during COVID, which was a really difficult time,” said owner Jennifer Devitt. “The kind of work that they do and the hours they put in, I’d love to see them get supported directly.”

Participants also feel a sense of achievement when they see their completed work.

“We’ve had a number of times where members have come in and said, ‘I saw my item’ or ‘I saw my keychain’ that someone had. So there’s a lot of pride associated with what they’re making,” Murphy explained.

Gift boxes and keychains are also available through the Adults in Motion website. https://adultsinmotion.org/