“Get into your lederhosen and dirndls and use your best Oktoberfest alias,” the Intellectual Disabilities Agency of the New River Valley wrote in an announcement. “The German Club on Southgate Dr. in Blacksburg is the place to be on Friday, Sept. 28 for Oktoberfest with The Sauerkraut Band!”
Proceeds from Oktoberfest will go to Intellectual Disabilities Agency (IDA).
IDA provides social, educational, and recreational activities for children & adults with intellectual disabilities who live in the New River Valley. This is the only agency in the NRV, which provides these services and we are appealing to the community to support IDA’s fundraisers so quality services can continue being provided to a deserving group of individuals.
“Through our efforts, barriers are being broken down that traditionally kept people with disabilities apart from their non-disabled peers.” IDA Executive Director Sheila Roop wrote, “a few agency objectives include improving appropriate social skills, more independent living skills, having a better quality of life, advocacy, and providing much needed respite to families,” she wrote. “Appropriate social skills are important to all of us and are critical for individuals with developmental disabilities. As institutions downsize and close, more people live in the community. It is incumbent upon us to broaden our sense of tolerance and understanding so this is a smooth transition.”
An Oktoberfest ticket includes a full Bavarian dinner and show featuring the Sauerkraut Band. Adult German beverages will be sold separately.
“The children and adults who participate with this agency will always need these services and activities,” Prell Gross, president of the board of directors said. “When children begin participating with IDA, they will most likely be accessing these services for their lifetime. Likewise, most adults have been participating with IDA since they were children. Participation has steadily grown over the years, which reflects the quality of the activities and programs.”
The IDA’s services and activities include volunteers without disabilities participating as equal teammates or buddies with individuals who have disabilities.
IDA Treasurer Coreen Bookout called transportation provided to activities “one of the most important services for clients and the most expensive service for this agency.”
“Lack of transportation is an important issue in the New River Valley, but it is a critical issue for clients and others who have disabilities,” she wrote. “The number of clients accessing our services continues to rise every year and will always do so. IDA is an area United Way partner agency. We depend on this funding and are grateful for the efforts in the community. The Board of Directors also recognizes that additional funding must come from fundraisers such as Oktoberfest.”
For more information on Oktoberfest, call Sheila Roop, Executive Director,
at 381-0310 or email at Sheila@idanrv.org or visit the IDA website www.idanrv.org for information.
Contact Sheila at 540-381-0310 or Sheila@idanrv.org with questions. Advance tickets are available on Eventbrite.com.
