SPARK celebrates 10 years of helping adults with disabilities

Misty Ridenbugh stood by the door of Harman Hall at First Baptist Church of Heath, patiently waiting for the first visitors to arrive at the soup kitchen.

Behind her, Kati Sheets, Loni Slone and Susan Gruber were busy in the kitchen, cleaning trays, getting ready to dish up shepherd’s pie and pour glasses of lemonade.

Tuesday was the first day for the Heath soup kitchen, organized by the staff and clients of SPARK, a Granville agency that provides jobs, vocational training and activities for adults with developmental disabilities.

When three members of the church’s pastoral staff walked through the door for lunch, the women in the kitchen immediately got to work filling trays with food.

Ridenbugh watched their first guests eat lunch with a huge smile on her face.

“I’m so proud of this soup kitchen,” she said.

Molisa Martin, vocational habilitation coordinator at SPARK, watched proudly as each woman executed her job perfectly. Her goal is for the soup kitchen to grow, helping anyone in need of a meal while giving her clients the work experience they require.

Projects such as the soup kitchen that give clients a sense of pride and help connect them to the community are what SPARK is all about, Martin said.

“This is something that is meaningful for them,” Martin said. “That’s the power of SPARK. It’s not about us. It’s about them.”

A decade of growth

Ten years ago, Shelley Laney started SPARK in a conference room at the Licking County Board of Developmental Disabilities with just a handful of clients.

Now the agency serves close to 100 people at several locations, including its Granville headquarters at 119 W. Broadway and locations in Pataskala.

Laney, who has been in the industry for 40 years, is now trying to open another SPARK facility in Worthington.

“They are places where they can not only get training opportunities but also potential employment opportunities, if they want to go to the next step,” Laney said.

After moving from the Board of Developmental Disabilities to a Heath church, SPARK transitioned to a space on West Church Street, where the staff created Studio SPARK, a store selling the art clients made.

As the number of clients grew, SPARK began focusing on the things clients wanted most — job skills and the chance to be active in the community.

“We try to help an individual find what they want to do,and what makes them successful,” Martin said. “We focus on their individual goals.”

Moving to its current location, next to United Church of Granville, in 2012 gave SPARK more room to expand its offerings, Laney said.

Now clients can gain a sense of independence by walking to the grocery store, the library, or to get lunch with friends and staff members from SPARK. They are close to Denison University, which offers a variety of programs and job opportunities.

“Granville has welcomed us with open arms,” Laney said.

Support to gain skills

Every client who comes to SPARK has a goal. It’s up to the staff to help him or her identify that dream and work to achieve it, Martin said.

Some participate in the activities offered in the day support program, which gives them the opportunity to stay active and make friends. Others are interested in getting a job in the community.

Those clients can participate in SPARK Academy, which helps them learn soft skills, such as problem solving and collaboration, as well as job skills.

SPARK has a variety of partnerships with local companies and organizations. Those interested in learning about lawn care can shadow employees at a local landscaping company; those who hope to work with animals can help out at the Licking County Humane Society.

But some clients need to practice their skills in a more supportive environment, Martin said. Those adults can participate in one of the projects offered by SPARK while earning an hourly wage.

Working at Inspiration Station, SPARK’s vintage toy store in Pataskala, can help them practice retail skills. SPARK Pataskala offers clients the chance to learn about gardening and raising chickens.

SPARK’s La Tea Da tea room gives adults the opportunity to learn skills they would use in a restaurant setting, such as serving food and washing dishes.

Those interested in art or acting also have the opportunity to get their skills out there by participating in the SPARK Players’ production of “Malachi’s Crooked Wing” or creating pieces for Studio SPARK.

“Even if it’s just a few hours a week, they can feel great about it,” Laney said. “This job will always be here for them.”

Over the years, SPARK has had many success stories.