Scott Swanson
Of The New Era
Sunshine Industries has begun its campaign to raise funds for a new facility to house the organization, which provides work opportunities, education and other services to local developmentally disabled people.
“Our official kick-off is Wednesday (Feb. 4),” Executive Director John Strickler said.
The goal of the capital campaign is to raise $900,000 of the $2.2 million estimate to build a new facility to replace the aging farmhouse at 3714 E. Long Street that has housed the organization for 35 years. Chuck Thompson, a retired Sweet Home High School business teacher who is general chairman of the campaign, said Sunshine will try to raise money locally to give it a good shot at landing some foundation grants. He and Strickler said the campaign committee is looking for donations of all sizes, not necessarily just money from big donors.
“No amount of money is too small,” Strickler said. “We’ll take $5 but we’ll go after $100,000 as well.”
Thompson acknowledged that the timing is not good, given the concern over recent economic developments.
“One of the comments we often hear is ‘Gee, you’ve really picked a good time to do this,'” he said.
He said committee members debated whether to go forward after receiving a conditional use permit from the city to begin the construction process.
“Ken England, one of our members, used to be in the military and he said, ‘Failure is not an option,'” Strickler said, relating how the decision was made to go ahead. “If we can’t get enough money to get foundations’ support, we’ll just keep raising money. (The economy) might get worse, but there’s a chance over this period of time that it might get better.”
Strickler emphasized that the current facility is deteriorating rapidly and must be replaced. The design and building process is expected to take three years and he and Thompson stressed that people could stretch their donations over that period of time.
Thompson also said that donors don’t have to give only money.
“We are working on the other end also,” he said. “Sometimes people don’t have money for a contribution, but they may be able to assist us with time or materials. People who don’t have much money may have connections with services and materials.”
He said campaign committee members are planning a variety of fund-raisers, including a possible golf tournament, a dance, spaghetti dinners and garage sales.
“We want to create a time line so we have constant activity to keep this in front of the community,” he said.
The campaign committee is led by Thompson and Vice Chairperson Bob Dalton of Weyerhaeuser’s Foster Plywood, Ken England and Dixie Clark. Honorary chairs are Bob and Mona Waibel.
Committee members are Kristin Adams, Jaime Calhoon, Theresa Grimes, Larry Horton, Larry Johnson, Joel Keesecker, Beth Lambert, Craig Martin, Wendi Melcher, Michelle Sweett, Steve Veilleux and Strickler.
Preliminary designs for the new facility show a complex more than double the size of the current buildings. It would include a wood shop, a large day room, various meeting and work rooms, and offices. The current buildings would be torn down as the new one is built, Strickler said.
People interested in donating can deposit their donations to the Sunshine Industries donation account at Linn County Federal Credit Union. The money will be earmarked for building unless designated otherwise, for computers or the woodshop for example.
A new Web site is being developed at sunshineindustriesunlimited.com. which will have instructions for prospective donors, Strickler said.
Thompson said Sunshine needs donors who appreciate its mission.
We’re looking for people who have a heart-felt interest in helping us to achieve our goal,” he said.