Blue River Services, Inc. (BRS) is a non-profit organization founded in 1959 by six families who believed that all people are capable of learning when given the opportunity and appropriate support services. With this guiding philosophy for nearly 60 years, BRS has consistently expanded its services to meet the needs of community members and help people with disabilities and the general public overcome barriers to independence.

BRS strives to reach its motto of “People Serving People” by providing exceptional services for all ages, from infants to seniors, in all areas of life and levels of ability.  In fiscal year 2018, the agency served 25,677 individuals through more than 20 programs in 30 Indiana counties.

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After helping wipe down some tables in a classroom for 4- and 5-year-olds, Tina Densik, Manager of Rainbow’s End Preschool and Child Care Center in Corydon, chats with staff about fixing a dollhouse – again – and places the top back on a play kitchenette. Affixed temporarily, the dramatic play element likely will not survive another week with 94 eager little hands. But soon, thanks to a generous $15,000 grant from Samtec, center staff won’t have to worry about such repairs.

Awarded through the Samtec Cares Grant Program, the funding will allow Blue River Services, Inc. to purchase long-needed supplies for each classroom. The toddler classroom will receive a play kitchen and new acrylic mirror and art display center with write-on/wipe-off panels. The 2-year-old classroom will get a dramatic play area makeover with a table and chairs, storage center, classroom carpet, kitchen, dress up center and dollhouse. In the 3-year-old classroom, young learners will benefit from a new sand and water table, LEGO play table, dress-up center and rugs. The preschool classrooms for 4- and 5-year-olds also will soon have a new kitchen to help them develop their social and problem solving skills; a reading nook complete with book tree to promote early literacy; a mobile STEM station; dress-up center; sand and water activity center; and lots of new storage space and classroom carpeting shapes to provide a clean, safe place for learning.

“I’m certain the new equipment and supplies will not only help brighten the center, but will have a positive impact on programming,” said Daniel J. Lowe, President and CEO of Blue River Services. “As a non-profit, community support is essential, so we are very thankful for Samtec’s support of our mission to serve our community, especially its youngest members.”

The Samtec Cares Grant Program was created to positively impact and assist organizations within the communities in which Samtec employees live, work, go to school and play. Grants were awarded at a July 11 reception attended by Julia Baylor, Director of Children’s Services, and Stephanie Rex, Afterschool Program Coordinator.

Blue River Services, Inc. held its second annual Color Walk for Children and Families April 27 at Buffalo Trace Park in Palmyra. The event raised $2,500 for the Department of Children’s Services and its programs serving Harrison and Washington Counties.

As the 160 attendees gathered, guest speaker Gregory Brodfehrer, Family Case Manager for the Indiana Department of Child Services, recognized April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and its nationwide symbol – the pinwheel. He then led the group in planting a garden of pinwheels at the park to help raise awareness of community efforts to stop child abuse and neglect.

The event has become a way to promote these important efforts while bringing families together for a day of fun, says Marija Zink, Outreach Coordinator for Children’s Services at Blue River Services, Inc., who planned the event.

“With little opportunities in our area for families to engage in community events, it is important to provide an affordable opportunity to do something fun and active with the whole family,” Zink said. “Of course, we would not have been successful without the support of local businesses and community members.”

Blue River Services would like to thank First Harrison Bank, Heaven Sent Gifts, Smith Animal Hospital, Links Clothing, Life Springs Health Systems, Miller and Sons Lawn Care, Affordable Tax Income, Conrad’s Transmission, Kent Java Bar, El Nopalito, Edward Jones Investments, Centra Credit Union, BR Grafix, Regions Bank, Jim Sieber, and Christina Tomey for their support that helped make this year’s event a success.

As part of the event, other organizations that serve the community attended to provide information about available resources. Thank you Harrison County Sherriff’s Department, Harrison County Safe Kids, Harrison County Department of Natural Resources, Harrison County Department of Children’s Services, Harrison County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), New Hope Services, Indiana Anthem Medicaid, Harrison County WIC, Covering Kids and Families of Indiana, Community Action of Southern Indiana, and Hoosier Hills PACT for bringing valuable information to our community members.

And a special thank you for the Holy Smokers from the Palmyra United Methodist Church for cooking up some delicious food!

On April 17, a steady line of residents gathered in the parking lot at Country Trace affordable senior housing community in Palmyra. Harrison County Community Services, Inc. (HCCSI) had arrived in a large, white box truck filled with items from its food pantry – a new service being piloted at a few rural housing communities.

The service, said Executive Director Rick Cooper, was implemented as a means to reach more people in need.

“Home delivery is something we have discussed for a while,” said Cooper. “Our new home delivery service focuses on senior, low-income and disabled populations, and gives us the ability to serve additional people who need food, but don’t or can’t come to the office in Corydon.”

Residents at Country Trace were pleased to have access to the food they need without having to coordinate transportation and make the 20-minute trek from Palmyra to HCCSI near downtown Corydon.

There were 16 households served, eight of which had never been to HCCSI.

“Already, 50% of those we reached had not previously received services, and we think that number will grow each month,” said Cooper.

The agency will visit Country Trace residents once a month to deliver food, which includes fresh produce, two types of meat, canned goods, dry goods, such as pasta and rice, as well as snacks.

“I ♥ Helping.” The message was proudly displayed on bright purple shirts, and the volunteers who wore them personified it. The group – one pharmacist and six pharmaceutical technicians from the Jeffersonville-based specialty pharmaceutical company BriovaRx® – joined Blue River Services and its Housing Department for Mayor Greg Fischer’s Give a Day Week of Service, a volunteer opportunity supported through Metro United Way.

On April 17, BriovaRx® employees took a break from helping patients manage complex conditions and prescribed medications to support Blue River Housing staff and enhance the landscape at Country Trace affordable senior housing community in Palmyra.

By the end of the afternoon, the eight-acre property had newly planted flowers throughout, in community planting beds and at some of the apartments where the residents weren’t able to plant their own. Volunteers also pulled weeds, spread rock and dirt to fill in eroded areas, replenished dirt at the horseshoe pits, and laid down grass seed and straw.

The group said they chose to work with Blue River Services, because it was close to home and they wanted to give back to their local community – the selfless act of compassion that is encouraged through the Mayor’s signature program each spring.

Thank you to all our volunteers!