Sunflower Hill Receives Grant from Rotarian Foundation of Livermore

April 22, 2020

Organization will use grant to fund Online Activities programming

Sunflower Hill announced today that it has been awarded a grant from the Rotarian Foundation of Livermore. The grant, totaling $5,000, will be used to continue to create programming for its Online Activities, which provide learning, enrichment, and opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities, their caregivers and the greater community to connect and engage with their surroundings in a unique way.

As a result of the current Covid-19 Shelter-at-Home Order, Sunflower Hills’ vocational and life-skills programs at the Sunflower Hill Garden and the Stable Cafe have been suspended for the foreseeable future. Now in its fourth week, Sunflower Hill Online Activities has enabled the organization to continue providing life-skills, stress relief, and most importantly consistency for its program participants. Online Activities are posted on the organization’s website and social media each weekday at noon.

“Knowing that the change in routine for adults with developmental disabilities can be very challenging, we wanted to provide consistent and continued learning and enrichment opportunities for our program participants and others in our community,” said Edie Nehls, Executive Director at Sunflower Hill. “We’re thrilled to hear from our program participants and community members about how much they are enjoying and appreciating each activity,” said Nehls.

Sunflower Hill Online Activities include a wide variety of learning and enrichment opportunities, including: a weekly Garden update, Yoga For All Abilities videos, cooking lessons, life skills How-To Videos, scavenger hunts and most recently live, interactive classes. Each activity provides an opportunity for exploration and experimentation and sharing the creations of those engaging with their online programming.

Sunflower Hill is dedicated to creating spaces and places where adults with developmental disabilities live, work, learn and realize their contributing place as part of the greater community. The organization creates residential communities and vocational and life skills programs that are set in a garden space, a restaurant, and soon at its residential community, Sunflower Hill at Irby Ranch, for adults with developmental disabilities.