When people think about community involvement, they often picture familiar faces, meeting up with friends, or waving to neighbors as they go about their day. But there’s a whole group of people who are often overlooked. Independent Environments, Incorporated (IEI) is all about bringing these individuals into the heart of the community through kindness, support, and active involvement.
Discovering a New Kind of Care
For many who join IEI, the experience is eye-opening. Before working with IEI, most staff had little experience with the kinds of people they now support—individuals who may be isolated or left out for various reasons. One staff member said, “I worked with autistic kids in schools, but this is different. The people we serve are so sweet, and getting to know them has been amazing.”
IEI runs 11 homes in Eugene, Oregon, providing care for 28 people. Their services cover everything from 24-hour residential care to daily support like handling finances, medical needs, meals, and transportation. Basically, anything you’d do for yourself or a loved one, the team at IEI does for the people they help. The staff of about 110 includes nurses, support workers, and specialists, all focused on making life better for those they serve.
ACE Program: Bringing the Community to Them
One of IEI’s critical programs is ACE, which stands for Active Community Engagement. This program ensures that the people IEI supports stay involved in the community, even when things like the COVID-19 pandemic make that hard. During the pandemic, IEI started virtual day programs with fun activities like science experiments, art projects, and cooking shows to keep people connected and social even when they couldn’t leave their homes.
Some people supported by IEI can’t leave home regularly, even outside the pandemic. IEI’s work is vital because it brings the community to these individuals. One staff member said, “Sometimes our visits are the only connection these people have to the outside world.”
But IEI doesn’t stop at meeting basic needs like food and medical care. It also helps the people it serves live full, happy lives by reaching personal goals, going on vacations, trying new hobbies, and being part of the community. The support workers at IEI are dedicated to giving everyone they care for the chance to lead a meaningful life.
The Power of Volunteering
Frank Ratti, an IEI board member, shared his story of getting involved. Like many, it happened by chance—his wife’s best friend from school asked him to join the board. Frank had worked in Lane County for years but wasn’t aware of what IEI did until he got involved. Since then, he’s seen how robust community involvement can be.
Frank moved to Oregon in 1974 and has lived in Eugene since 1980. He loves how connected the local community is. “Just talking to people today, I realized I have a personal connection with almost everyone in this room,” he said. That’s what makes being part of a community so unique.
Since retiring 12 years ago, Frank has found that one of the best parts of retirement is having the time to volunteer. “Volunteering has been such a rewarding part of my life. It keeps me connected to the community meaningfully,” he said. Frank encourages anyone interested in making a difference to consider joining IEI, especially as a board member. The organization always needs passionate people to help.
How You Can Help
If you want to give back and impact your community, consider getting involved with IEI. Volunteer, serve on the board, or spread the word! Every little effort helps. IEI believes in the power of community and welcomes anyone who wants to join them in making a real difference in the lives of those they serve.
Contact Christel Kaufman at 541-343-5422 for more information.