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North Lake Presbyterian Lady Lake

Support For Duvall’s Art For Everyone Program

May 15, 2019 – Thank you to the many community church groups who, for years, have kept Duvall Homes in their prayers, and continue to support the programs and services we provide. Yesterday, the special women of North Lake Presbyterian Church paid a visit to DeLand for a tour of Duvall’s Opportunities Enrichment Center.
 
Following their tour, Linda Williams handed Duvall’s Director of Adult Day Training (ADT), Shirley Zonnevylle, a $500 check to help with programming expenses, as well as a $200 gift card for participants to go shopping for art supplies!
 
The ladies are familiar with how Duvall’s Art For Everyone program has grown during the past 4 years as they have provided funding for white boards and markers, donated art supply bags, and purchased mugs and greeting cards that display works of art created by our participant artists. Duvall’s ADT programming continues to flourish thanks to the steadfast support of people like the women from North Lake! You are part of the #TheDuvallDifference.
Look for more great art stories later this summer!! Read additional news and events like this inside Duvall’s 2019 Spring Newsletter.

Mother’s Day & Bulletin Boards

May 12, 2019 – Happy Mother’s Day from all staff, residents, and day training participants at Duvall’s Opportunities Enrichment Center.

There are more than a half dozen large bulletin boards at Day Training and a full dozen classroom doors, which are blank canvases that transition into colorful masterpieces during various holidays and special events throughout the year. Our ADT Support Specialists take advantage of these blank canvases by researching meaningful visuals and messages to create inspiring works of art with participants and, for that, we’re thankful!

Heart Bulletin

Bulletin Board

MLK

Follow Duvall Homes on Facebook to view these creative ADT works and other collaborative pieces that will be highlighted in a surprise publication later this year.

ADT Specialists

Thanking ADT Staff With A Renovation Tour

May 9, 2019 – Duvall Homes’ Chief Marketing and Development Officer, Elizabeth Bhimjee, met with staff from our Opportunities Enrichment Center last week at Duvall’s Glenwood campus.  The focus of the meeting was to tour some of the recently renovated Day Training classrooms, which took place during the past three months.

Bhimjee praised the hardworking Support Specialists and Management for their commitment to providing excellent programming to those in our care – a fundamental requirement, which helped in last year’s applications for grant funding. The entire renovation project has been made possible through the support of several private foundations, along with Duvall resident family members.

Each Member of the Staff was later rewarded with a personal Art Bin filled with essential art supplies and a colorful new “#DuvallDifference” T-shirt given by the Director of ADT, Shirley Zonnevylle,

A Phase II of ADT renovations is planned for 2019-2020. Look for a more detailed story in the upcoming 2019 Spring Newsletter.  Below, Duvall’s newly renovated ADT “Tech Lab” complete with like-new office cubicles from Commercial Office Liquidators in Sanford, new chairs, headphones, new storage cabinetry and blinds from DeLand Lowe’s and freshly painted walls and tables.

Adult Day Training

Post by Lisa Habermehl

Duvall Homes Volusia Parent

Duvall Homes: Inside Volusia Parent Magazine

May 1, 2019 – Duvall Homes is proud to be a part of Volusia Parent Magazine’s Summer Planning Issue. The issue focuses on many exciting activities in which children can participate during the summer months, including volunteering.

Duvall’s mission of providing residential supportive care and day training services would not have lasted for 74 years if it weren’t for the generosity of our giving community. Community service is a huge part of that giving – an important activity for children to be part of and to learn from.

“We are fortunate to have the most generous supporters, and without them, much of our work would be difficult to accomplish,” said Elizabeth Bhimjee, Duvall Home’s Chief Marketing & Development Officer. “Volunteers are part of our long history, and we rely heavily on their kindness and compassion.”

We are fortunate to have a community of ambassadors of all ages who continue to donate their time assisting Duvall’s staff and residents. These caring groups are dedicated to service all year round and are essential to our daily operations.

Duvall’s story on Developing Community Ambassadors, appears inside the May issue of Volusia Parent Magazine, as well as Flagler and St. Johns Parent Magazines. Read the full story here on pages 8 and 9.

#ImInspired #TheDuvallDifference

Community Ambassadors

Post by Lisa Habermehl

Newsletter Cover Post

Remodel, Refurbish & More Inside Spring Newsletter

April 30, 2019 – Arriving soon in your mailboxes is Duvall Homes’ 2019 Spring Newsletter. “There is always so much to share in our newsletters, and this issue is no exception,” said Duvall’s CEO Steven DeVane. “We honor our dedicated staff and volunteer groups who together form the backbone of our mission, and we are grateful for their compassion and tireless work.

In his newsletter message, DeVane references the many undertakings staff and contractors have completed and continue with regarding remodeling of our Opportunities Enrichment Center (Adult Day Training) and group homes.

DeVane continues to work at the state level with leadership in Tallahassee on workforce development issues related to Duvall’s Direct Care staff. Through his work with the Florida Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, in partnership with the Florida Department of Education, “We are proud to be part of Florida’s first competency-based apprenticeship program for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). This pilot program is in its early stages, but we are hopeful it will elevate the important work DSPs perform and lead to greater validation, special certification and, ultimately, higher wages,” added DeVane.

2019 Duvall Homes Newsletter

Also inside the newsletter are details surrounding Duvall’s Fifth Annual Inspiration Gala. Be sure to SAVE-THE-DATE September 27, 2019 for our most important fundraiser of the year. Several announcements will be sent out during the next few months. In the meantime, enjoy an overview of what to expect at this year’s Gala, including an opportunity to reserve your tickets early this year before it sells out, inside the digital newsletter at DuvallHomes.org/Newsletters.  In the coming weeks, updates will be made to our Inspiration Gala page.

Post by Lisa Habermehl

US Navy

U.S. Navy Recruits Volunteer At Duvall Homes

April 6, 2019 – The staff and residents of Duvall Homes send a sincere thank you to the young men and women of DeLand’s Navy Recruiting Station for spreading more than a hundred bags of mulch around several Duvall group homes in West Volusia. The inspiring group also dismantled and removed a 20′ table and assembled 8 new classroom tables for our Vocational Training Program at Duvall Homes’ Opportunities Enrichment Center.

Navy Recruits

We are most grateful for their hard work, and were impressed with the speed and commitment in which it was completed.

A special thank you to Commander M. Juanique Wallace of Navy Recruiting District Jacksonville; and to Chief Jericus Lewis, NCI Jason Stoudt, HM2 Jennifer Denis, QM1 Abbe Beaston and AWF2 Kenneth Connelly from DeLand’s Navy Recruiting Station.

Your service helps support our mission of providing residential supportive services and day training to people with developmental disabilities living in our community – a steadfast mission that begin in 1945. Thank you being part of #TheDuvallDifference!

Post by Lisa Habermehl

ADT Tess Jessica

Caring For Those We Serve

March 21, 2019 – Direct Support Professional, Jessica, personalized a blanket for a long-time resident of Duvall, Snookie.

“It is so beautiful and kind of Jessica to do this for my Snookie,” said Tess, who visits her daughter every week during Adult Day Training on our beautiful Glenwood campus.

Tess champions all Duvall staff, praising their efforts and dedication to caring for those we serve.

#TheDuvallDifference

Learn more about Duvall’s Programs & Services

ADT Tech Lab

A Technical Sneak Peek

March 8, 2019 – We love sharing “sneak peeks” to various projects that occur through the year. One in particular is inside an ADT classroom at Duvall’s Opportunities Enrichment Center.  A stark difference to hanging curtains and unmatched furniture, this simple photo shows newly installed cordless blinds, fresh paint, new storage cabinetry, table and chairs. It’s just a small glimpse into what will soon become our new Tech Lab!  There will also be some added color soon… Thank you to various sponsors, grant awards and community support, which will be addressed in coming reports.

Tech Lab Update

Group Home

A Special Builder For A Special Need

February 7, 2019 – When it comes to building a new group home for individuals with special needs, there is a great deal more to consider than there is for your average home. And such a project demands a special builder — one with years of construction experience, insight and patience. After a monthslong search, Marsha Shankleton, Duvall Homes’ Chief Operating Officer, found the perfect builder.

Funded in part by a grant from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, last spring Duvall began the long process of searching for a parcel of land in West Volusia, proximal to public transportation and large enough to build a 3300 SqFt. home for six residents with Down syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy and other disabilities who are cared for 24-7 by trained and certified Direct Support Professionals. The home would need both living and office space, a spacious porch and grounds for enjoying the outdoors, and sufficient parking for special needs vehicles.  A 2.5-acre plot was obtained in North DeLand.

So who is the builder? “We needed someone who knew how to marry the commercial safety of a sprinkler system, fire and carbon monoxide alarms and adequate parking, with the comfort and privacy of group home living,” said Shankleton.

Meet Tanya Ebersole, licensed contractor and owner of Camelot Custom Construction Inc. Originally part of a father-daughter team, Ebersole grew up on construction sites. With more than 30 years of experience in residential and commercial construction, she came highly recommended. (Above, Tanya Ebersole with Duvall Homes’ CEO, Steven DeVane; Below, Ebersole with Johnny Hartwell of Exclusive Drywall)

After testing her skills in a recent renovation of another Duvall Group Homes, Ebersole…Read full story in The West Volusia Beacon “A Special Builder For A Special Need” by Lisa Habermehl

Group Home

View additional images from the build of Duvall Homes’ new Group Home on our Facebook Page here.

#TheDuvallDifference

Volunteering at Publix

Shopping Is Our Pleasure

February 5, 2019 – In Duvall Homes’ Adult Day Training Program, at our Opportunities Enrichment Center, participants develop skills to help them achieve the highest level of independence possible. Great volunteer experiences result from this training, like bagging at our local Publix.

Duvall Homes

Publix

Posted by Lisa Habermehl

Learn more about Duvall’s Day Training Program.

More Duvall Homes’ News & Events

#TheDuvallDifference #CommunityService #ImInspired

Duvall Homes ADT

New Picnic Tables For ADT

January 30, 2019 – Duvall staff and residents cherish our community of volunteers!  Thank you to the student volunteers of Father Lopez Catholic High School who recently sanded, cleaned, primed and painted 4 large picnic tables on the grounds of Duvall’s Glenwood campus in DeLand.

#TheDuvallDifference

Once the weather warmed, the tables were enjoyed by participants in Duvall’s Adult Day Training Program following an outdoor stroll. There are also some fun “artistic” plans for these beautiful, now like-new, picnic tables, which will incorporate Duvall’s Art For Everyone Program.

If you know of a group of students, or employees, interested in providing service for Duvall Homes, please contact lhabermehl@duvallhomes.org. Come be a part of #TheDuvallDifference!

Duvall Homes

Duvall Group Home

New Duvall Home Site Gets Foundation

January 11, 2019 – Duvall Homes celebrates the new year by sharing a sneak peek at the home site of our new group home going up in DeLand! It will have six spacious bedrooms and four Jack and Jill bathrooms, a front and back porch, a full sprinkler system and other outstanding features.

Duvall Home

Staff are all so excited. Many more details, including photos and video, will be shared in the coming weeks and months. Duvall Homes is in good hands with Camelot Custom Construction, Inc., the Parade of Homes Award Winner Builder, who renovated one of Duvall’s 16 group homes last year.

Follow Duall Homes on Facebook to view the latest construction photos.

Duvall Homes

Posted by Lisa Habermehl

ImInspiredDeLand

Follow Us On Instagram @ImInspiredDeLand

January 2, 2019 – Happy New Year to our Duvall Homes family and community. Once again, we’d like to thank each one of you – our families, friends and businesses – for supporting our mission to empower people with developmental disabilities living in our community. Because of you, our mission has not waivered since 1945. Duvall’s History

Last February, Duvall Homes joined Instagram for the primary reason of being part of the Tim Tebow Foundation‘s inspirational Night To Shine annual event, which took place in DeLand for the first time at Stetson Baptist Church. We named our Instagram page #ImInspiredDeLand.

Since then, we’ve posted images with Instruments of Healing, images from #NationalSmileDay, ADT participants using Rendever and other images. Follow us on Instagram at #ImInspiredDeLand to be inspired and be a part of #TheDuvallDifference.

Volunteers are needed for the February 9, 2019, event. Visit NightToShineDeLand.org and TimTebowFoundation.org/Night-To-Shine-2019 for details!

More Duvall Homes-Night To Shine stories at DuvallHomes.org/?s=Night+To+Shine

From the Duvall Team, we wish you all a heartfelt happy and healthy 2019!

#TheDuvallDifference

Employee Appreciation

December 24, 2018 – Happy Holidays to the hardworking staff of Duvall Homes, most of whom will continue to work through the holiday season caring for our Duvall Community Family, 24/7.

Holiday Fun
CEO, Steven DeVane, draws several employee names with CFO, Karen Kummerer.

The dedicated team had some fun this past week. Names were drawn for prizes, guesses submitted for the Tower of Candy, T-shirts that read “You Are Part Of #TheDuvallDifference” were given out and other surprises.

A sincere thank you to the parents and families who supported the 2018 holiday bonus, to the caring Board of Regents who provides support and professional advocacy throughout the year, and to Duvall Homes’ Leadership Team, led by Duvall Homes CEO, Steven DeVane. Read more on Employee Appreciation.

Duvall Careers

ADT

Happy Holidays And Merry Christmas

December 23, 2018 – Happy Holidays from Duvall Homes!  Earlier in the month, after decorating the halls of our Opportunities Enrichment Center, residents attended the Pierson Lions Club annual Christmas party.

Merry Christmas 2019

Everyone was entertained with live holiday music, a BBQ dinner and dessert prior to Santa’s arrival with gifts.  Duvall Homes is grateful for the generosity shown by the Lions Club.

Only a few images were captured as we are in the middle of securing new photo releases for the protection of our residents. Thank you for your understanding.  Just note, the residents had a fantastic experience.

Be sure to follow Duvall news and social media posts (bottom of page) for inspiring news and events, and for additional images as releases are received.

Merry Christmas