Inclusion — it means something different to everyone.
For LightHouse Enrichment Services, and New Path 1010, it looks like people doing life and serving together, regardless of physical or mental ability.
Formerly known as Rizing Starz, LightHouse Enrichment Services aids developmentally disabled individuals in and around Lawrenceville. Its team of caregivers provides personal support, natural support, community living support and respite services to individuals and their families.
“This is my ministry. For many years, I searched for my purpose — God built me for this,” said Mara Perez, LightHouse’s principal chief operating officer and director of client services. “Every trial, every disappointment, every victory set me up for this path. Supporting individuals who are underserved or unnoticed in our community brings me joy.
“We’re a small organization and all ‘wear many hats’. We can never pay anyone enough [to do what we do], yet we have staff that come to work every day with a smile, joy and ready to make a difference. They are true heroes!”
Along with meeting safety and health needs for its participants, LightHouse also encourages its participants to look beyond themselves to help others.
“Service plays a big part in LightHouse,” Mara said. “Our mission is to serve, and when we do, it adds value to the lives of those we serve. Our participants love school supply shopping and packing book bags for the book bag drive. They love when I bring the Christmas Angel Tree cards — shopping for and wrapping the gifts. They love sponsoring families and dressing up with elf ears and delivering them.
LightHouse was attracted to New Path’s mission as an opportunity for their participants to volunteer.
“We’ve been involved with New Path since its start, as Rizing Starz before becoming LightHouse in 2021,” Mara said. “Nan [Britt, former board member] was phenomenal in ensuring that inclusion was more than just words; our participants went to serve with New Path and were allowed to serve to the best of their abilities.”
LightHouse’s participants started with simple tasks, but it’s gone far beyond that for many.
“They used to only break down boxes; now they are also on the assembly line, putting cards in bags, loading vehicles and unloading delivery trucks,” Mara said. “They have non-paid relationships full of joy. They can follow directions given by other volunteers.
“Serving at New Path improves the quality of life for our participants because they feel valued and part of a community.”
It’s more than just the tasks accomplished; it’s about the victories this work represents for these individuals.
“To see individuals conqueror skills you and I take for granted or improve their health with simple fixes fills me with so much pride and joy," Mara said. "The miracles and successes that happen daily are truly overwhelming.
“We’ve seen individuals with autism who may spend most of their day stimming or doing their own thing go to volunteer and break down boxes or pack bags as if they did it every day. We’ve seen individuals with significant behavior issues successfully be a part of something bigger than themselves. Family members tell us they get up on Mondays ready to go so they don’t get left behind. We’ve seen other community volunteers embrace and carry conversations with them — often with laughter and joking — making our participants feel valued. [Try to] tell me God is not real!”
Not only has Mara witnessed such wins within the walls of New Path but outside of them, too.
“Some of my favorite moments [with our participants] are at Night To Shine, which New Path led us to,” she said. “When they first suggested we attend, I had the craziest look. I did it reluctantly, but I am so happy we did it. It’s turned out to be the event of the year for us! To see the volunteers buddy up with our individuals or to have karaoke days where they just are themselves — that is a sight to see.”
This partnership doesn’t just impact the participants; Mara has seen her own faith grow as a result of it, too.
“Providing our participants the opportunity to serve with such grace humbles me when I complain. There was a time when my family could have been on the receiving end [of New Path’s services],” Mara said. “Being a part of New Path humbles me because it reminds me how big God is! When I keep putting God in a box, being a part of New Path reminds me to keep God out of the box.”
Partnerships like these make a difference for everyone involved, and New Path is blessed to have such a valuable relationship with LightHouse. We truly are better together!
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