A Mother's Love Spreads Hope To A Community
CBS4 News is featuring a special series of reports this holiday season called the 12 Days of Christmas. The following story is written by CBS4's Tom Mustin.
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. (CBS4) - A nonprofit group in Castle Rock is giving hope to parents and their special needs children.
It's called Wellspring Community. Inside its doors, lives are changing.
Nearly 50 adults with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism and other conditions are learning valuable skills, everything from assembly work for local businesses to ceramics and woodworking to knitting.
"I got lots of friends and I love them so much. I'm glad I came here," participant Vera Amantini told CBS4's Tom Mustin.
Executive director Mary Lou Fenton founded Wellspring in 2008 after realizing her special needs daughter Emily faced an uncertain future after high school.
"At that time the state of Colorado ranked among the lowest in the nation -- 48th -- in funding services for adults with developmental disabilities ... so the future was looking very bleak," said Fenton.
Fenton refused to resign her daughter to a life of being shut in and watching television. She set up cooking classes in her kitchen, one day a week, for Emily and three of her friends.
"They would bake cookies and they loved it. Soon their friends wanted to join and within a few months we had three kitchens operating. I knew we were on to something," she said.
To build their confidence, Fenton took the kids with her to sell the cookies at local churches. In 2012, Castle Oaks Covenant Church offered Mary Lou office space and built her a commercial kitchen. Now her Best Buddies bakery, run by students, cranks out everything from gourmet cookies to dog treats, all sold at local shops and hospitals.
Wellspring is fueled by more than 100 dedicated volunteers. Fenton has expanded her program to include life skills and enrichment classes.
"Dance, drama, fitness and Spanish, Sign Language," said Fenton. "We have people who are blind creating beautiful ceramics. We have people who are deaf singing in the choir. It's really pretty amazing."
All for a population that has traditionally been ignored by society.
"We're empowering the lives of the adults we serve but we're giving hope to parents and siblings who are scared. They're scared for the future. they want to know their loved one is going to have a safe place."
Parent Linda Harlas says Wellspring has been a godsend for her daughter Katie.
"Her interactions here have kind of opened up her world a little bit here," said Harlan. "She's happy and she loves what she does here."
That's Fenton's goal.
"Their hearts are full here. They matter. They know they are important. They know we value them and that they're loved. It doesn't get any better than that."
And in Castle Rock, Emily Fenton, the little girl who inspired her mother to make a difference, offered a word of thanks.
"It's on her heart to always think about people with special needs cause she has a daughter with special needs like me. Thanks Mom for helping all of us."
Wellspring Community counts on donations to keep its doors open. To contribute or find out more about the group, go to wellspringcommunityonline.org.
Tom Mustin is CBS4's Weekend Anchor. He has been with CBS4 since 2002, and is always looking for great story ideas. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomCBS4.
