All About Harvest

Have you ever been standing in the produce aisle at the grocery store and wondered a little about where all this food came from? With the EP!C Harvest, there's no need for that to even cross your mind. EP!C is truly an incredible place. There are so many unique things going on all the time, one of them being the EP!C harvest.

We have a wide variety of fruits and veggies that are grown right in our backyard. This includes collar greens, kale, green onions and broccoli which are all available at this very moment. As the year goes on we'll have plenty of other options. What makes the Harvest so special is that everything is 100% naturally and locally grown right here at EP!C.

 This year, we plan to have more options to choose from than we've ever had before. Much of our produce is showing up at various local restaurants including Table 19 in Peoria, which truly speaks to how important locally and naturally grown produce is to chefs in the area. It's safe to say that this is important to all of us.

 I've always believed that it's good for the mind to be curious and wonder, as it is a good "workout" for the brain. But one thing none of us want to worry about is if our food is sanitary and where it came from. With absolutely no artificial fertilizers or sprays of any sort, EP!C Harvest is the obvious choice for someone who wants nothing but the best natural produce in their kitchen.

That's all for now, over and out!

We're Back!

What's up everyone? The blog is back and so am I and I give you my word, I am never going away. There's a lot going on at EP!C these days and I'll do my very best to keep all of my readers up to speed with everything.

First things first, I'm not the only writer anymore. So, without further ado, I'd like you all to meet my partner in crime, Brittany Street. She's currently a senior at Bradley University studying marketing with a concentration on social media.

She's a die-hard Chicago Blackhawks fan. I'm a Ducks fan so we butt heads every now and again. She's likes sushi. I despise sushi with a burning passion. But it's all good. We're buds. Anyway, She'll be in control of all things social media. As always, I'll be keeping my extraordinary talents with the blog. At this point in time, our mission is to get EP!C's name out there like never before.

I'm talking fundraisers, new events, more social media posts and weekly blog posts. In the near future, we're hoping to complete a 2015 calendar featuring photos of some of our individuals here at EP!C. Also, we're working on a quarterly newsletter to help advocate against the recent Illinois budget cuts. They've affected the lives of many, including individuals here. The EP!C harvest is thriving as usual. More and more local restaurants are using the produce in their restaurants. That's all I have for now, over and out!

2015 Bon Appetite!

On Tuesday, March 10th, two incredibly talented local chefs stood side by side in the final cook off before our main event. The chefs were given 2 relatively simple tasks to complete. The first was to create a dessert while following one particular recipe. The 2nd, it must be inspired by a beautiful pendant designed by an individual here at EP!C.

Both chefs were given one hour to create a unique dessert using both their cooking skills and their creativity to prepare an unforgettable dessert for our judges. On top of all this, there was one more element that made this night truly special. One of the judges was an individual from EP!C.

This is what makes EP!C the awesome place that it is today. In the short time I've been here, I've realized that EP!C will go the extra mile to ensure that everyone, absolutely everyone gets an opportunity to succeed and be happy. For this reason alone, EP!C takes up a lot of space in my heart. Everyone has a chance to do what they love. I'm completely wheelchair bound and have been for my entire life. I couldn't even tell you how many times someone has told me I can't do something because of my physical condition. EP!C does the polar opposite of that. They tell me I can. Truthfully, we can all do anything we set our minds to. It's very important that we surround ourselves with positive people who tell us we CAN. The individual with EP!C was given a fair shake. She had just as much of a say in who wins as everyone else. 
     The results of this particular cook off were finally released at the main event on March 26th at Embassy Suites. As people began to arrive at the main event, it was easy to tell that it was going to be a great turnout. It was nothing short of expectations. Hundreds of guests showed up to make Bon Appetite as successful as we'd hoped it would be. There was art created by some very talented individuals with EP!C. There was everything from 16x20 acrylic paintings to uniquely painted piggy banks. Early on in the event, the winner of the March 10th cook off was announced. The winner is..... Chef Castro. Next, it was time to eat. Professional Chef Luca Manfé walked up on stage and prepared a couple of dishes for us while explaining the recipe.

He showed charisma and a great sense of humor as he told jokes, stumbled over his own words and even took a selfie or two. Words simply can't describe what a great time it was for everyone who attended the 2015 Bon Appetite event. It was an EP!C turnout to say the least.

A Day In The Life Of...Drew Burton

What's poppin'! I'm Drew Burton. I'm an intern with EP!C and I write the blog on EP!C Perspective. I'm an avid hunter and video game extraordinaire. I'm a red belt in tae kwon do, so don't mess with me!

Hats and shoes are BAE. My style has absolutely no boundaries. I wear top hats with goggles and psychedelic shoes with wings on them.

I can pull it off with my finely chiseled features. I listen to some gangster rap in my spare time. West side! I've had a form of Muscular Mystrophy my whole life called Spinal Muscular Atrophy. It's basically a progressive, muscle wasting disease that makes me just a little weaker everyday. At times, it can feel like life has given me more losses than wins, but I've taken my weaknesses and turned them into strengths.

I've had this disease my whole life. If there's a single thing it's taught me it's that Muscular Dystrophy will take my muscles, my physical strength, but it will never claim my spirit. I guarantee that. I'm a determined guy to say the least. When someone tells me I can't do something, I'll make it happen at all costs. Seriously, if you tell me I can't walk on the moon, I'll buy a spaceship and be on the moon within a week. I don't eat fruits or vegetables. Especially bananas. I'd rather get bit by a rattlesnake than eat a banana. My blog posts are absolute fire! Everybody and their momma should check them out! I want to be a journalist someday. Maybe for ESPN or something because I love sports.

It's safe to say I'm not your average guy in a wheelchair, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Do what makes you happy and don't let anyone stop you. Most importantly, don't take any wooden nickels.

Coach Shannon Coming Through Clutch by Drew Burton

With football season drawing to a close, what better way to get in the basketball spirit than an interview with EP!C Bobcats manager and head coach, Shannon H. While talking to Shannon, it didn't take long to notice his competitive spirit and need to succeed.

When asked about this basketball season, Coach Hochstatter stated, "we'll stop at nothing to win games." But this story is so much more than basketball alone. Shannon is wheelchair bound and has been for almost his entire life. He faces day-to-day obstacles that many of us couldn't even imagine. Through all of his challenges in life, basketball is something that makes all the negatives in his life disappear.

I was fortunate enough to catch up with him and talk sports with him for a while. I asked him why he chose to be the manager of the team. He simply said "I just want to be involved in something." That's when I knew that this is much bigger than basketball. It's something he can do.

I was in a discussion one time with someone who told me that sports don't matter. For a few seconds, I actually believed him. As soon as the insanity left my mind, I began to think of reasons why sports DO matter. No, they will never end world hunger or find the cure to cancer, but one thing they do is make people happy, wheelchair or no wheelchair. The bottom line is, Shannon has found something that he is capable of doing. He can fully participate as the manager and team leader of the EP!C Bobcats.

So for this reason alone, sports matter. We all know about the pros like LeBron or Sweetness, but millions of people are involved in sports. They help escape the drudgery of day-to-day life and put smiles on the faces of many.

The manager of the Bobcats is a true inspiration to all of us. Through all of the difficulties and hardships we will face in our lifetimes, we absolutely need to focus on what we can do, and forget about all of the things we can't do. Think positive, be involved in something and always eat your vegetables.

Valentine's Day Story by Brad Johnson

This story is one of my many favorite little moments from working here at EPIC. I think it was Valentine’s Day two years ago.Bob M.(if you don't know him, he is a very polite, well dressed, kind older gentleman who lives with a Host Family and works in our Work Skills area). 

He comes in to my office and says, "Good morning Sir, Do you know if Donna is here today?" I said, "Which Donna?" Bob said, "Donna S."  I said, "I'm not sure, lets go see."  (Donna, if you don't know her is a very clever, funny, sometimes ornery lady in our Older Adults area who likes to talk in rhymes.)

So we find Donna and Bob says, "I made you a Valentine, Donna..." and hands her an envelope and says, "Do you wanna read it?" Donna opens the envelope and I'm not sure if she reads, but she does know her letters and she starts going "H...A...P...P...Y...V...A..." through every letter of all the words on the card. 

Then Bob says "There's a picture too..."  I assumed maybe Bob had found some old picture of him and Donna together that he put in with the card or something and was thinking Awww that's cute..., but Donna pulls it out and its a picture of Bob with the Little Caesars Pizza mascot and he says, "Its me with Cheeser Cheeser..." Donna smiled and said, "I love you too, I do...funny little honey bunny...." Then Bob said "Happy Valentines Donna" and headed off to his area to go to work.

.. 

I just thought that was one of the most adorable little Valentine’s Day scenes that I have ever witnessed and I just  wanted to share that story and maybe give people a smile. Sometimes the daily grind of work can get stressful and it can be easy to get caught up in that from time to time, but also its good to take time to enjoy all the little magical moments like this which only occur at unique places like EPIC. 

We are lucky to get to spend some time in our lives with some one-of-a-kind, loveable individuals that can bring a lot of joy to our lives, as we hopefully do for them as well... Anyways, Hope everyone has a great Valentine’s Day! :) ~ Brad

Do Something! By Drew Burton: Marketing and PR Intern

In life, staying active can be one of the most difficult challenges we may face. We are all faced with obstacles and it's up to us to overcome them. The trick to being happy is to always be doing something. I've been sitting in this chair my whole life, and if there's one thing I've learned from all of it, it's that your brain can either be your best friend or your worst enemy.
 Sometimes, your mind can make you think that the world is out to get you, or you're not capable of doing what makes you happy. That's when you need to get up and go do something, anything. Whether it be riding a bike, skydiving or even something simple like building a birdhouse or two,
 it's important to always keep your mind active. Take this story for example. Marcus, an EP!C Harvest manager, has been going the extra mile to help keep others' mind active, which ultimately results in happiness. He's been helping individuals from work skills and the senior program build birdhouses. 
Clearly, Marcus enjoys making others happy. It's obvious that Marcus is doing his part to put a genuine smile on these peoples' faces. The moral of the story is, do something. Do what makes YOU happy.
 There is no substitute for legitimate happiness. You can do anything you set your mind to. So it's up to you, you can sit back and dream about what you want to do, or you can go out and make it happen.