Issue link: http://southshoremagazine.uberflip.com/i/919874
20 much adopted our homes in Abington and Pembroke: Twin Rivers Technologies of Quincy has spent countless hours at both houses, and has vastly improved the look and feel of the homes. They always show up with a "can-do" attitude and have the biggest hearts. They spend hours volunteering in the hot sun raking leaves, weeding, mulching and making sure the yard is ready for the upcoming season. This past summer, a group from Twin Rivers Technologies spent a day setting up a vegetable garden at one of our homes in Pembroke. The group learned that most of the people who live in the home either have difficulty walking without assistance or are completely wheelchair-bound. Taking all of this into consideration, the group got to work and built raised beds that were wide enough and high enough for everyone in the home to navigate through, thus allowing everyone to participate in the summer garden. The group made simple adjustments to the materials, allowing them to build a better garden for the individuals. Simple to them meant the world to the individuals and staff at the home. Meanwhile, another group noticed the much used and enjoyed decking on the RTR house in Abington was in poor shape and needed some TLC. They quickly organized a team to power wash, stain, and bring the deck back to like-new condition. While the volunteers were working, James*, one of the individuals who lives in the home, spent the afternoon watching with joy as the volunteers went to work restoring the deck. He sat under the shade in his wheelchair watching them. As the volunteers took their breaks, they all came over to say hello and spend some time with James. The volunteers from Twin Rivers Technologies have been back many times to volunteer and say hello to the individuals who live in these homes. The support we receive from our volunteer groups is not only incredibly helpful to us, but is incredibly meaningful to our individuals and their families. WHAT'S NEXT FOR RTR: RTR is getting ready to celebrate our 30th anniversary, and we want to invite everyone to help us make this coming year the most memorable yet. We are continuing to expand our footprint in the community through programming and services. We are also looking to build on our partnerships with our friends and businesses to help us raise more resources that go directly to the programs and people we serve. We want to encourage everyone who has an interest in being a part of an organization; people who, from the top down, truly care about the individuals, their employees and their community. Visit www.roadtoresponsibility.org to learn how you can get involved. *names have been changed. Norwell Kingston Plymouth Hanover Rockland Abington Whitman Weymouth Middleborough Taunton Braintree Stoughton Randolph Hingham Scituate Pembroke Milton Boston Marshfield In the summer of 2016, Femita sent an email to Chris White, RTR President and CEO, with a small request. She had been selected to participate on the Team USA Paralympic track and field team, and they were heading to Rio! This was a chance of a lifetime for her! The only problem was that she did not have enough time off to continue to Rio with her team. Thankfully, Chris recognized the uniqueness of her request and knew this was a huge opportunity for her. He responded with encouragement and reassurance that her job would be waiting for her when she returned. Being at RTR and working with individuals who have challenges and disabilities has brought out a new side of Femita. When she was a child, she was seriously injured in an accident and lost the use of her legs due to her injuries. She holds a sincere passion for the individuals she serves. She understands what it's like to face obstacles, and what it's like when people in the community don't understand. She encourages the people around her to be proud of themselves and never hide who they are. When Femita returned from Rio, she followed up with Chris to thank him for helping her realize her dream. She also informed him that she brought back some extra "hardware" from the Paralympic games: a gold and a silver medal! She made sure to share her successes with the individuals she serves, who were cheering her on from Abington — her "home team." OUR AMAZING VOLUNTEERS: For the past two years we have had some dedicated volunteer groups who help us with many projects at any one of our 48 homes in the South Shore. One group in particular has pretty