By Betsy Scheinbart
Queens residents with cerebral palsy now have an excellent way to work with their hands and build their self-esteem by growing flowers and vegetables at a greenhouse adjacent to the United Cerebral Palsy of Queens building in Jamaica.
The group officially opened the greenhouse at 81-15 164th St. in Jamaica last Thursday and thanked Citibank for the $15,000 grant that paid for the new building, constructed by Four Seasons Sunrooms.
Cerebral palsy is a disorder which causes brain damage and defective muscle control, which affects the mobility of many with the disease.
“It’s a wonderful thing for you to be able to grow something,” said Jackie Arrington, the director of community relations for Citibank. “It’s got to be wonderful for their self-esteem.”
Marigolds, petunias, radishes, pansies, basil, mustard, chives, and geraniums are among the plants that already grow in pots painted by people in the organization’s day services program and geriatric program.
Jesse Wasserman, who is in the geriatric program, said: “I liked having a hand in making the greenhouse” as did Theresa Danadio, part of the group’s day habilitation program.
“It is very special that we are able to retrieve money for the greenhouse, something we have been talking about for a very long time,” said Charles Houston, the executive director of United Cerebral Palsy of Queens, which serves 1,700 people with housing and day services.
The grant came from deductions from the salaries of Citibank employees, said Walter Kupperschmidt and Natalie Abatemarco, vice presidents of Citibank.
“This was an especially attractive project because it supports a non-profit really performing a quality service,” Abatemarco said.
Terri Ross, the director of adult services at the center, said the greenhouse will serve about 600 people by “giving them creative ways to develop skills.” Greenhouse work is common therapy for people with developmental disabilities like cerebral palsy.
Ross said many of the social services the organization offers involve going into the community, but some with cerebral palsy are physically disabled and unable to get out of the center.
With the help of Sandy Crosby, the program director for day services, program participants designed laminated labels for the seedlings and know how to identify each plant.
They were also set for a Mother’s Day sale Friday, hoping to relieve the greenhouse of some already flourishing plants.
Crosby said everyone is working hard to keep the greenhouse clean and continue to grow more plants.
Reach reporter Betsy Scheinbart by e-mail at Timesledgr@aol.com or call 229-0300 Ext. 138.
