DoodleBug Workshop Celebrates Expansion with Ribbon Cutting for Adult Day Program on September 3

DoodleBug Workshop celebrated its expansion of services and space on September 3 with 100 supporters and a ribbon cutting at 314 S. Main Street in Wheaton.

Wheaton Mayor Phil Suess applauded the efforts of executive director Sarah Starke "to continue to help people with special needs through innovative programming right in the heart of the community."

Subscribe

In June, DoodleBug Workshop launched its Adult Day Program for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities after seeing the need for this type of program. Participants are involved in educational and engaging activities Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. including field trips to interesting places throughout the western suburbs. Sarah Starke said, "We are promoting inclusion, independence and lasting friendships."

DoodleBug nearly doubled its space at 314 S. Main Street to accommodate the new program which also facilitates respite time for families and caregivers.

Information about the Adult Day Program and the vocational program are available at www.doodlebugworkshop.com.

The DoodleBug Workshop vocational program continues in the adjacent workshop space with weekly classes in woodworking and single sessions for groups that serve people with disabilities. Beautiful products for home and garden made by the participants are on display and are for sale.

DoodleBug Workshop has come a long way since it was launched by single mom Sarah Starke in 2017 in her living room to offer adults with intellectual disabilities the chance to learn how to use tools to make products. She wanted something more challenging for her son, Alex, and others like him who were capable of more than what society expected of them.

Anyone visiting DoodleBug Workshop will be duly impressed by the professional-quality workshop space and program, led by highly qualified woodworking volunteers.

Damian Allen, McCann Industries VP of Sales for Construction Supplies and Liam Poe and Ethan Imlach of DeWalt Tools - all supporters of DoodleBug Workshop's vocational program - were on hand at the ribbon cutting to celebrate the expanded program. They also admired the DeWalt display in the Workshop, showing tools that had been donated to DoodleBug.