Scott Swanson
Sunshine Industries has purchased land to which it plans to relocate from the site it has occupied for nearly 40 years.
Chuck Thompson, president of the Board of Directors, said the organization has acquired 2.3 acres of land on Clark Mill Road, across from the headquarters of Melcher Logging. Sunshine plans to construct two buildings on the site, a 7,680-square-foot main building and 3,000-square-foot woodworking shop and storage facility. He said Sunshine is paying $105,000 for the land.
The organization will host an introductory hot dog feed for neighbors and other interested members of the public from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13 at the site. If the weather is not cooperative, the event will be held at the Melcher Logging office across the street.
“We’re giving out invitations to everyone who lives on Clark Mill Road,” Thompson said.
The need for more space has grown in recent years, he said. Since 2001 Sunshine’s client numbers have increased from 28 to more than 60 adults with developmental disabilities, ranging in age from 20 to 60. The nonprofit organization provides vocational training, paid employment, basic life skills training and socialization. It is funded by government grants, income from work contracts and local contributions.
Clients work in a grounds-keeping crew, confidential shredding service, wood shop, janitorial service and plant nursery. All Sunshine services are available to the public.
Sunshine started in the early 1970s as a parent-operated activity center and, in 1973, located in its present facility, a dilapidated farmhouse at 3714 Long St. that once served as a Seventh Day Adventist school.
The relocation is due to the deterioration of the present 4,000-square-foot facility and the need for more space, Thompson said. Sunshine needs space to store equipment, lumber and finished product.
“Not only is the new facility going to give us more room, but it will allow us to offer services we don’t presently have,” Thompson said. “Those may include a fitness center and shower facility for clients, and a commercial kitchen. Thompson said Sunshine hopes to enable clients to earn food handlers cards so they can work in the food industry as dishwashers or busing tables.
“We want them to have those skills,” he said.
Sunshine also helps clients brush up on their basic educational skills.
“Once clients leave the school system they have no practice in math, reading and writing skills,” he said. “We’re practicing those skills so that they can qualify for work-related positions. In order to qualify for work rehabilitation programs, they have to be able to read and write and do basic math,”
He said that Sunshine has been turned down for a federal block grant because its clients earn income.
Sunshine started a capital campaign about 2 1/2 years ago but suspended it temporarily while it dealt with some “management reorganization” that resulted in the arrest of its former executive director, John Strickler, on charges of aggravated first-degree theft after he allegedly embezzled Sunshine funds.
“That’s why we kind of suspended it,” Thompson said.
He said that Sunshine will seek a conditional use permit for its building plans at the next city Planning Commission meeting, on Nov. 7, and will restart its capital campaign once it has the permit.
“Our funding is going to have to come from local fund-raising and what we can provide from our operating funds,” Thompson said, adding that work is important for the the clients. “Without realistic work opportunities for our clients they would just be sort of like displaced people who sit around and do nothing.”
For more information on Sunshine, visit http://www.sunshineindustriesunlimited.com.