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Aitkin County Developmental Achievement Center (DAC) has served local adults with developmental disabilities since 1967. Its humble beginnings were in a church basement and a handful of people. Over time, we have grown and expanded into 3 different locations and serve over 70 individuals.

First, we have folks at DAC-Mart Thrift Store who manage donations, loom upcycled denim rugs, and keep the store up and running.

Second, we then have DAC, in a leased space within the Aitkin Growth Innovations building, where our activities-based Life Enrichment program is held.

Third, we have DACWORKS, where clients run a worm farm, do a multitude of woodworking projects, make various seasonal crafts, make ice-dyed products, loom rugs, tend chickens, make licensed bird treats, and more. DACWORKS' hand-crafted, high-quality products are all sold in the Uniquely DAC corner of DAC-Mart and provide an opportunity for our clients to earn an income.

We also offer supports including community employment enclaves, integrated employment supports for individuals, In-Home Supports, volunteer support, and transportation – as well as our all ages and abilities community program called Better Together, and our Special Olympics teams for both bowling and track and field.

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The DAC team has long dreamed of the ability and space to combine different parts of the program so those we serve can have greater access to opportunities for choice like learning new skills, presenting the ability to collaborate with various groups, and so much more. The need for a new space has increased as we continuously add new folks to our program. DAC staff's unwavering commitment to greater service and growth continues to drive ambition, and the desire for program enhancement grows even stronger with every person who joins our program. 

 

Riverwood’s Behavioral Health building came up for sale, and we jumped at the opportunity to purchase the building that will be renovated to suit our needs for amplifying our DAC program. There are a great number of benefits this presents for our program. This would enable us to have our own sizeable space (not leased) for our Life Enrichment crowd, boasting more square footage, a safer loading and unloading area for transportation, larger and more handicap accessible bathroom facilities, and accessibility to a plethora of activities and opportunities within the Special Projects area. This also presents an opportunity for larger spaces for our Special Projects crew. There will be separate side rooms for better organized work stations and excellent storage (instead of one overcrowded  with limited square footage at DACWORKS), as well as having a designated collaboration space for our leadership team to be together and collaborate more frequently to solve problems and further elevate our program.

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With your help, we can continue our mission by enhancing our large, beautiful, inclusive space so we may come together and further the goal of empowering everyone to achieve their personal best! We have lovingly named this fundraiser "Together We Grow" because if the community rallies around us, we can make this incredible space one that fosters growth, both for each person's journey and the ability to grow in numbers to form a stronger, more inclusive community. 

With this new building and its renovations, it would provide the people we serve:

• More organized and specified space for different products we make that are for sale at the Uniquely DAC space located in DAC-Mart

• greater access to a larger amount of new and exciting activities for our Life Enrichment crowd

• Safer outdoor spaces away from traffic, which we could have raised gardens within, and comfortable and adaptive patio equipment to enjoy all while being surrounded by wildlife for enjoyment purposes

• Safer transportation practices - The ability to board and unload vehicles in a paved space, away from traffic

• Better/more handicap accessible bathroom facilities

• A communal activity/recreation space for elevated leisure activities and gatherings, with a kitchen area included for teaching additional life skills

• A more inclusive space to help friendships grow, enhancing their social circle

• Improved physical and mental health

• And more!

 

With our program needs, we will have to do a number of renovations in addition to the cost of having purchased the building. Renovations include the demolition of select walls, installing flooring and a kitchenette space in our large recreation area, purchasing new equipment, and adding a safe, accessible outdoor patio space.

 

Your contribution to our Together We Grow campaign will make a significant impact on the lives of the people we serve - both now, and for the future!