A jokester, family oriented, friendly, take charge, blinged out (in her favorite jewelry, that is).

This is only the beginning of a long list of kind words that describes Sharon, a participant at the Lonning
Center, one of CLI's four centers in the Support Services for Adults (SSA) program. Sharon has been with the program for 16 years. Throughout this time Sharon has grown in many ways which have been noticed by staff and her family.

Since she started the SSA program, Sharon has become an active volunteer in the community and has made simple chores at the center into her own jobs.

"When Sharon starts a job," said Mary Kotek, Manager at the Lonning Center, "she makes it her own and it becomes ‘her job’."

Some of the jobs that Sharon claims at the center are folding clothes, taking out the trash, doing the dishes, and taking mail to CLI's administration office.

Outside of her tasks at the center, Sharon is a devoted volunteer in the community through Lonning Center. Sharon’s main volunteer work is at Recycle City, a Central Material Processing Facility in St. Peters, where she
assembles packets of city information for new residents. Sharon also volunteers quarterly at the St. Peters Police Station where she shreds paper. As a sign of appreciation to Sharon and all of her work last year, she was invited to the City of St. Peters Volunteer Luncheon.

Sharon does take time for some relaxation. For 12 years, Sharon has lived in a supportive living home. Sharon likes being at home where she can watch her favorite TV shows, which include Judge Judy and St. Louis Cardinals’ baseball games. While she is at home, Sharon also enjoys making cards for her friends and cooking. She makes her lunch every day and also cooks dinner for herself and her housemate every night.

Corrine, Sharon’s sister, and her family look forward to Sharon’s visits on the weekends. Sharon also goes out to dinner once a month with Corrine. Sharon and Corrine were very close growing up, so Sharon had some adjusting to do when Corrine moved out of their parent’s house, got married and started a family of her own.

"She has become very accepting of my kids and the changes in my life," Corrine said. "She even organizes my kids’ rooms when she is over," she laughed.

Corrine has watched Sharon go from a more reserved personality to an outgoing, independent, and self-assured woman. She loves that Sharon has made some great friends and is an active member of her community. Corrine views SSA as the right fit for Sharon and knows she is happy here with CLI.

When asked what CLI has meant for her family, Corrine said, "It’s like when you send your kids off to school and you hope they will do their best and become more independent and learn and grow. Community Living has been able to do that for Sharon."