Building Purpose, Independence & Community
By Jackie Edmondson
Manager of Marketing and Member Services
On any given day at Rainbow Omega, neighbors gather around kitchen tables, friends head to work together, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities live the kind of purposeful lives many families once feared would never be possible.
Parents, siblings and caregivers from as far away as New York, Colorado and California bring their loved ones to Eastaboga to be a part of the Rainbow Omega community — a place founded on the belief that every person deserves independence, meaningful work and a sense of belonging.
"They want their son, daughter or sibling to experience a life beyond the limitations of their caregivers," said Denise Taylor, director of marketing and public relations. "They want them to have friends, opportunities and a future that will continue long after they're gone."
The vision to help those families began in 1991 when Stentson and Dianne Carpenter founded Rainbow Omega after struggling to find resources for their son, Chris, who was born with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
"He was born at a time when people didn't fully understand how to work with many different abilities," Taylor said. "The Carpenters set out to create the opportunities they wanted for Chris. They saw a need, and it became their mission."
The first 2 group homes opened in 1995 and served 16 individuals. Today, Rainbow Omega serves up to 85 residents ranging in age from their late 20s to 101, and it operates on a budget exceeding $10,000,000 annually.
The faith-based nonprofit sits on more than 300 acres in Eastaboga and includes 8 residential group homes, 2 intermediate care facilities, vocational facilities, greenhouses, gardens, housing for staff and volunteers, a gift shop and community spaces.
Perhaps what makes Rainbow Omega unique is not the size of its campus, but the community it has created. Unlike many residential programs that place individuals in traditional neighborhoods, Rainbow Omega has built an entire neighborhood of peers — a place where adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities live, work and socialize alongside people who share similar experiences.
"Everybody wants neighbors they can relate to, have fun with and share their dreams with," said Chief Executive Officer Tim Hodge. "We've built a wonderful community filled with amazing people."
The residential homes are staffed by live-in house managers and typically serve 6 to 8 residents. Each home includes common living areas, kitchens, laundry facilities, medication rooms, and private bedrooms for each individual served.
"All of our group homes have a homey feel," Taylor said. "Residents prepare meals together. They eat together. They socialize together." Demand for services from Rainbow Omega continues to grow. Today, approximately 100 individuals remain on the waiting list. “The waiting list is a reminder that the need for services like ours continues to grow,” Taylor said. “Families are looking for a safe place where their loved ones can live independently, build friendships and experience a meaningful life.”
Creating a meaningful life extends far beyond providing a place to live. At Rainbow Omega, work, learning and personal growth are woven into daily life. Many residents learn a skill or trade that earns them a weekly paycheck. The most popular vocation is the horticulture program.
“We are widely known for our beautiful mums, ferns and poinsettias,” she said. “During the holiday season, we deliver poinsettias to the Governor’s Mansion in Montgomery to be part of the decorations for the season.”
Residents and staff work side by side in 12 greenhouses and recently expanded operations by converting 1 greenhouse into a propagation house. The facility will allow Rainbow Omega to produce its own plant cuttings rather than purchasing plugs from outside vendors.
"Eventually we should be able to produce the majority of our beautiful plants from small cuttings from the previous season’s plants," Hodge said. "That means a greater use of our funding to support our mission to serve the residents."
The propagation house will also create new vocational opportunities for residents in the 2 intermediate care facilities, known as the ICFs. The ICFs are the only 2 facilities of its kind in the state of Alabama and serve individuals who require a higher level of medical and personal care than those in the residential program.
"Our staff works with the residents to develop personal care skills and other life skills in addition to vocational training," Hodge said. "The ICF is an opportunity that allows them to regain or increase skills and their health to improve so that they can transition into a residential setting."
The goal is always greater independence, he said. "We want to assist residents in pursuing vocational opportunities in the greater communities, should they choose to pursue that," Hodge said. "They enjoy learning new skills. They want to work." The same spirit of growth can be found just beyond the greenhouses. What started with a donation of about 500 blueberry bushes has blossomed into another successful enterprise supporting Rainbow Omega's mission.
"We have a tremendous blueberry harvest every year," Taylor said. "I may be biased, but they're the sweetest, most delicious blueberries you'll ever taste."
Rainbow Omega blueberries are sold through wholesalers, at farmers markets, community events, and the on-site garden and gift shop. Local restaurants, including Hubbard's Off Main in Oxford, also serve the berries. An annual blueberry picking event each June raises additional funds for the organization.
The vocational program expands indoors at the Carpenter Work Center, where approximately 60 participants work alongside coaches and supervisors to complete contracts for Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, Neptune Technologies and Douglas Manufacturing. Residents package Honda owner’s manuals, assemble conveyor components, and label product bags for the companies 5 days a week.
"Our industry partners are invaluable," Hodge said. "They create opportunities for our residents. The work builds confidence, teaches responsibility, allows individuals to contribute to national and international manufacturers, and - most importantly - earn a paycheck. They are so proud to be wage earners."
The vocational program isn’t just technical. Creativity also plays a role through Crayon Creations. Resident workers transform donated crayons into colorful works of art sold at several retail outlets, including Alabama Goods locations in Huntsville, Hoover and Homewood. The Crayon Creations are also stocked in the Rainbow Omega Garden and Gift Shop located at the entrance to the campus.
“The workers place bits of crayon in molds and then heat them to create cute pieces of art,” Taylor said. “We have packs of animals, dinosaurs, ocean life, space-themed and beach-themed. We also have individual pieces for sale. Our most popular creations are the hearts and flowers.”
Creativity and engagement continue at the Rainbow Omega Garden and Gift Shop, a popular destination for visitors and supporters. Open year-round, the shop offers plants and flowers grown on campus alongside handmade wreaths, candles, purses, artwork and other gifts created by residents and local artisans. Visitors can also purchase local honey, garden supplies and hummingbird feeders.
The shop has items that make wonderful gifts, including soaps and lotions," Taylor said.
Rainbow Omega and its 95 employees enrich the lives of residents far beyond housing and vocational training by creating opportunities for recreation, fitness and personal growth. The Rainbow Omega Community Center includes an adaptive fitness center that was created from funds raised by the Family and Friends Support Council. The center allows residents to exercise on a variety of adaptive equipment, and a physical therapist is available 2 days a week to assist residents with physical challenges. The ROCC also includes an art room, kitchen, and meeting space that is available for corporate meetings, receptions, and other special events.
Providing the vast array of services and support requires significant resources. Most of Rainbow Omega's funding comes from grants and donations made by individuals, businesses and churches. Approximately 5% of the budget comes from the Alabama Education Trust Fund while another small portion comes from Medicaid waivers for Day Program services. Residents contribute a monthly residential fee of $2,650, but the actual cost of care is closer to $7,500 per resident each month.
"Providing housing, transportation, food, utilities, maintenance, medical support and vocational training is expensive," Hodge said. "But when you see the lives being changed and the opportunities being created, it's worth every dime."
Strong community partnerships help Rainbow Omega fulfill its mission through volunteers, funding support and other resources. The Coosa Valley family of brands is 1 of those partners. Rainbow Omega is a member of Coosa Valley Electric Cooperative, a subscriber of Coosa Valley Technologies and a customer of Coosa Valley Propane.
Hodge said he appreciates CVEC and its subsidiaries very much. When construction of the new propagation house required electrical service, CVEC responded quickly.
"We were on a time-sensitive deadline for the delivery of our first batch of plant cuttings, and we needed the electrical service installed quickly," Hodge said. "They were here at 7 a.m. the next day. They send a bucket truck whenever we have lights out. They really go out of their way to care for our residents."
Switching internet service to Coosa Valley Technologies delivered significant savings.
"It saved us about $12,000 a year to go with CVT, and the service has been outstanding," he said.
Coosa Valley Propane technician Rodney Mosely is a familiar face on campus, regularly visiting to refill tanks and support the organization.
"Not only is Coosa Valley a great business partner, but their employees, like Rodney, are incredible people," Hodge said. "They show up to our events. They support our Garden Center. Just judging by the employees, you know Coosa Valley is a company with a good heart. They've been an incredible partner to Rainbow Omega."