The Stepping Stones Blog

The Greatest Gift to Give

2011-11-23T17:25:00.005-07:00

Now is the time of year people recognize as a season of giving. We give thanks on Thanksgiving and celebrate the winter holidays by spending time with friends and family. Some give gifts, others donate to charity. This is also a time where our financial means may stretch to limit in order to keep up with what we had done in years past. In a struggling economy with job security on the forefront of most people’s minds this is no easy task. It is easy to forget that we all have something more valuable than money in our possession and that is time. It costs nothing to donate but can touch lives in so many more ways than any physical gift can.

During this holiday season we encourage everyone to take a few moments out of their lives and do something nice for someone else. Spend a little extra time with your children or someone who may not have family available during the season. Those small moments are chances to create lasting memories for those that may not have enough happy ones. Most organizations need volunteers throughout the year and Stepping Stones is no exception. If you have the time to give then take that step and seize the opportunity to make those memories. This is a time of year when many people need those happy memories the most.

2011-08-19T16:11:00.002-06:00

Overall Idaho is winning it's long and persistent battle against the meth epidemic that struck our state over two decades ago. Although it has come to the forefront in recent years as a record number of our youth were falling victim to this terrifying drug there are still many others that continue down the path of addiction through other substances. State wide statistics according to the Idaho state police show that there is a rise in drug related crimes and arrests in recent years. The anti meth commercials have proven effective but we must look at education through a wider lense and educate the youth of our community on all of the threats they face.

Stepping stones recently implemented the L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P. 1st program which was made possible by Drug Free Idaho and are now beginning stage two with drug awareness and education classes. We believe this to be the most effective way to keep our children safe. Through education they can not only make better decisions but know fully the consequences faced with drug use. Our center director's aim was to familiarize our Wylie center residents with most common drugs and how dealers have begun to market these to younger generations. An example of this include using cool-aid and other flavorings to make ingestible drugs such as meth more palatable for teens and children.

Participants were introduced to the drugs, their effects and most importantly their dangers. Examples were given through video interviews with real addicts and photos of how drugs can ravage the users body. They were also introduced to some of the newer fads such as huffing and over the counter drug abuse that has seen a rise in popularity. They were shown interviews with parents who had lost their own children to these dangerous activity.

Our hope is to not only impact our Wylie center community but also other communities containing Stepping Stones centers. We believe that education will create a ripple effect, children will educate their friends and family and their new knowledge will spread to those who have not benefitted through education.

Helping the community and those in need

2011-07-21T13:03:00.005-06:00

Stepping Stones will be holding a donation drive next week, July 25-29. Locations to drop off items will include Flying "M" Coffee (from the 27th-29th) and any Mountain West Bank branch. We are also looking for individuals who would like to assist in picking up donation items from these locations.

Donation items can include:

Clothing
School supplies
Kitchen items such as pots,pans and utensils
Bathroom supplies such such as toilet paper, soap, shampoo, toothpaste ect.
Cleaning supplies
Educational material for children

Cash donations can also be made at any of the bank branches. Mountain West Bank has been kind enough to set up an account for donations.

We would like to thank everyone in advance for your contributions.

What it takes to be a leader.

2011-07-11T10:40:00.004-06:00

Looking back on our years spent as children and young adults one realizes the pressures faced in the years of our youth. Today those pressures have become greater with the advent of technology and easy access to drugs that are deadlier than any generation before has known. It is times like these that require strength of character and strong morals. L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P. 1st has developed a program that takes real world examples and creates scenarios that show how the decision making process is crucial to live a life that is not only drug free but is set upon a path towards success.

Stepping Stones has teamed up with L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P. 1st to share this program with the children of our centers. The Wylie center has been selected to be the first of many to participate in this program. It will be followed by an in depth drug awareness program to create a familiarity with commonly used drugs and the dangers of their use.

In conjunction with the youth program we will also offer a version for adults that will focus on the decision making process for parenthood, strengthening the family and giving their children the support needed to face the pressures of their peers. Upon completion of the program both youth and adults will be entered into a drawing to win cash prizes in appreciation for their attendance and participation.

Rock painting a smashing success!

2011-04-27T22:39:00.003-06:00

We all at Stepping Stones would just like to send out a personal 'thank you' for all who showed up to the Boise State University quad this afternoon and participated in our personalized rock painting event! It was a great success and everyone some really super creative designs were made. (For pictures, look here: Step it Up!

Now we move on to phase two!

Did I Hear "Rock Painting!?"

2011-04-19T20:08:00.003-06:00

Be sure to come on down to the Boise State quad next Wednesday 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM for our awesome rock-painting event that will benefit low-income individuals in need of quality housing! A great cause in need of some great people!

Grand Opening of our Newest Stepping Stones Computer Learning Center!

2011-02-02T08:25:00.002-07:00

This affordable housing community is located in Payette, Idaho and is sponsored by Idaho Senior Health Insurance Benefit Advisers (SHIBA).

Our learning center is a certified Medicare site. Certified counselors will provide assistance to elderly persons within the Payette, Idaho community with Medicare, Medicare Supplements, Long Term Care Insurance, HMO’s, the Prescription Drug Coverage Plan, and Preventative Screenings Medicare benefits.

Other programs include:

• Veteran learning and outreach programs will be provided.

• Independent living skills training, debt reduction, nutrition, and cooking on a budget classes.

• Financial literacy and identity theft education.

• Talking Book Service.

• Computer basics, email and web surfing basics to connect residents to health care, family, and more.

A special thank you to Diane Laurance, and the Residents at Payette Plaza, Karen Clark at SHIBA , Shane Vigil with lectrical Controls and Instrumentation, Ray Niederwarder At Sunnyridge, Todd Mahoney and Rebecca Mercer at NWRECC, for their hard work, dedication, and volunteer time to help make Payette Stepping Stones Computer Center a reality!

A Fun Day thanks to Zoo Boise!

2010-10-18T16:25:00.003-06:00

Residents and Children at Wylie Street Stepping Stone Computer Learning Center, had a blast spending the day at the zoo. Afterwords, the residents typed essays about their experience at zoo on the computers. A contest was held for the top winning essays!

Respect Your Elders!

2010-10-18T13:50:00.011-06:00

Northwest Real Estate Capital Corp. Proudly Announces the Grand Opening of our Newest Stepping Stones Center!

Burrell Street Station’s Stepping Stones Center is a certified HUD Neighborhood Network Computer Center. This low income senior and disabled community is located in Lewiston, Idaho and is sponsored by Idaho Senior Health Insurance Benefit Advisers (SHIBA).

Our learning center is a certified Medicare site. Certified counselors provide assistance to our elderly within our Lewiston community with Medicare, Medicare Supplements, Long Term Care Insurance, HMO’s, and the Prescription Drug Coverage and Preventative Screenings Medicare benefits.

Other Community Partners and Programs Include:

• Lewis and Clark State College (LCSC) - Students from LCSC's Service Learning Program teach computer skills, email, and web surfing to our residents.
• The Idaho Division of Veterans Services- Staff members provide learning and outreach programs to assist veterans.
• Potlatch # 1 Federal Credit Union – provided a donation for costs of printing supplies and materials.
• Financial Literacy Class/Building Wealth
• Credit Repair Courses & First Time Home Buyer Classes
• Internet, typing, Microsoft Office
• Nutritional and cooking on a budget
• Health and Disease Prevention

A special thank you to Kathy Neumayer our Service Coordinator at Burrell, and Tonya Steele at SHIBA for their hard work, dedication, and volunteer time to help make Burrell Stepping Stones Computer Center a reality!

"Buggy Reading Day"

2010-06-24T08:53:00.005-06:00

A "Bugs Life Event” was held at Wylie Street Station on June 19th. NWRECC partnered with the Boise State University Service Learning program and the students did a phenomenal job!

Below was the program itinerary:

* Introductions and Registration for Summer Pen Pals
* Bugged Out! Group Read Alouds and Bug Scavenger Hunt w Journal
* Bug Crafts
* Dirt & Worms Sundae Cups (Jenni will get ice cream bucket, oreos and gummy worms)
* Clean Up Time
* Summer Reading Challenge info session.
* Parent Q & A /Summer Reading Incentives.

Reading programs and financial literacy programs will continue throughout the summer!

Please Join Us, March 12th at 1pm, for The Grand Opening of a New HUD Neighborhood Network Center at Franklin Grove Apartments.

2010-01-18T09:35:00.008-07:00

This designated computer center will be Idaho’s newest and largest Neighborhood Network (beating our own Wylie record) with 10 brand new computers with DSL.

In addition to computer learning skills, services through our computer center will offer support both onsite and in our communities to help stabilize our residents' lives and create a transition to financial and living independence.

Our current partners/programs will include:

• Idaho Senior Health Insurance Benefit Advisors (SHIBA) - Our learning center will be a certified Medicare site. Certified counselors will provide assistance to our elderly within our Boise, Idaho community with Medicare, Medicare Supplements, Long Term Care Insurance, HMO’s, and the Prescription Drug Coverage and Preventative Screenings Medicare benefits.

• The Idaho Division of Veterans Services – Will provide learning and outreach programs to assist veterans.

• LINC – Brings learning opportunities onsite to our residents such as Independent Living Skills Training, and Advocacy. In addition debt reduction, nutritional and cooking on a budget classes will be offered.

• Idaho Commission for the Blind – Provides technical support and computer setup to appropriately accommodate our blind and visually impaired. Additional learning opportunities will include: Orientation and Mobility, Activities of Daily Living, Braille, Industrial Arts, and Job Readiness.

• Idaho Commission for Libraries- The Commission for Libraries is interested in serving our disabled and visually impaired through the Talking Book Service, a free source of audio books and magazines for those unable to read standard print. They will provide brochures about the program and demonstrations of the service to staff and/or residents.

• World Relief – Will provide outreach and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes

Northwest Real Estate Capital Corp.Proudly Presents...

2010-01-15T12:38:00.004-07:00

The Opening of Tree House Apartments Neighborhood Network Computer Learning Center on Friday, August 7, 2009!

Sometimes big opportunities come is small packages! Treehouse’s Computer Learning Center provides 3 brand new computers and a world of opportunity for our residents!

• Job training and resume workshops
• Computer classes
• Microsoft Word and Excel Classes
• Typing
• Building Wealth Program
• Afterschool programs
• GED Preparation
• Nutrition classes and more!

NWRECC's First Neighborhood Networks Centers. Grand Openings will be held in September 2008!

2008-08-25T15:40:00.011-06:00

NWRECC continues our mission as a "stepping stone toward a brighter future" for our communities. Our computer learning centers are more than a computer with Internet access, we truly will help each resident develop and learn the skills necessary in becoming self –sufficient

NWRECC will be opening two computer centers the end of September at Wylie Street Station and Tree House.

Wylie’s Center will be the largest Neighborhood Network Center in Idaho.
7 Computers all linked to the Internet
Staffed with a center director who will work with each resident by identifying their needs and goals, and assist in developing and tracking a plan toward a brighter future
A separate children's learning area that provides a daycare service for the kids,while the parents are busy learning, and provides the children with after school programs and computer learning programs
Internet classes taught by community education professor
Educational and on the job training referral programs
ESL classes
GED preparation
Hooked on Phonics Reading Accelerator
Hands on Banking financial literacy classes
Credit Repair Courses
First Time Home Buyer Classes
Crime Prevention and Education by Crime Stoppers
Imagine Mars by NASA

The above are just a few of the amazing programs available in our computer centers!

Tell Us Your Opinion!

2007-08-22T12:13:00.000-06:00

What do you feel the benefits of having a computer-learning center are?

Computer Centers Currently Underway

2007-08-22T12:03:00.006-06:00

Payette Plaza is located in Payette, Idaho and provides affordable housing to low income, elderly and disabled residents. The grand opening is expected to be Winter 2011.

Millcreek is located in Lewiston, Idaho and provides affordable housing to low income, elderly and disabled residents. The grand opening is expected to be Summer 2011.

Both centers are sponsored by Idaho Senior Health Insurance Benefit Advisers (SHIBA). These
learning centers will be a certified Medicare site. Certified counselors will provide assistance to our elderly within our Lewiston, Idaho community with Medicare, Medicare Supplements, Long Term Care Insurance, HMO’s, and the Prescription Drug Coverage and Preventative Screenings Medicare benefits.