The Helping Hand Newsletter
2015 Opening New
Worlds Conference
May/June
2015
Inside this issue
Recipes
Birthdays
2
Remembering
Jason
2015 Resident
Council
3
Cherokee on
the Go
4
Corbit Walker
Activities
2 Farewell
Luncheons
Staff Work
Anniversaries
5
Pedigo and
Appalachee
Outings
Tornado Tips
and Facts
6
Briarlake Baptist Church’s Little Light of Mine Choir and Liturgical Dancers performed at the
conference held at First Baptist of Decatur. Below left, Dr. William Oliver, President/CEO
of Wesley Glen Ministries in Macon, was one of the featured speakers, as well as Olivia
McMillan, below center, Miss America’s Outstanding Teen 2015. Her platform is “The Sibling
Fun in Jasper
Support Project.” Below right, is Briarlake Home Resident Michael Champion along with
Happy St.
Residential Services Director Denel James. Bottom photo, DIGS “Just As I Am Choir” from
Patrick’s Day
Rome/Floyd County, also performed during the one day conference.
7
8
Instructions on
Life
Pedigo Home
Appalachee
Home
9
Briarlake and
Stokes Events
Uses for
Avocados
10
Good Times at
Paul Home
11
Residents’
12
Rights, News,
Calendar,
Prayer Requests
Recipes
Bacon & Cheese Quiche
Day Home Resident Jessica
McFarland recently made this
quiche from scratch.
Ingredients:
8 slices bacon - cooked
4 oz. shredded cheese
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. milk
Directions:
Pea Salad
Ingredients:
1/3 c. sour cream
1 tbsp. mayonnaise
salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp. white vinegar
4 c. frozen green peas, almost totally
thawed
8 slices bacon, cooked until crisp and
chopped
1/2 small red onion, halved and sliced
very thin
6 oz. block cheddar, cut into small
cubes
3 tbsp. minced fresh parsley
Directions:
Mix the sour cream, mayo, salt, pepper,
and vinegar together to make the dressing.
In a large bowl, stir 2/3 of the dressing
into the peas until the peas are coated.
Gently stir in the bacon, onion, cheese,
and 2 tbsp. parsley until all combined.
Taste and adjust seasonings. Cover with
plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 to 4 hours
before serving. Place the extra dressing in
the frig, too. When ready to eat, remove
from the fridge and stir in the rest of the
dressing to your liking. Sprinkle with
remaining parsley before serving.
Preheat oven to 350°, lightly
grease pan. In a large mixing bowl,
combine all ingredients. Pour into
pan and bake 35 to 45 minutes.
Green Smoothie
Ingredients:
2 c. yogurt (Greek or regular,
flavor of your choice)
1 c. milk, your choice
2 c. pineapple chunks
1 c. green, seedless grapes
1 whole green apple, cored and cut
into chunks
1 whole pear, cored and cut into
chunks
1 whole banana, peeled
1/2 bunch fresh kale leaves (or
spinach, collard, or mustard greens)
1/4 c. honey or other sweetener,
optional
Additional and optional add-ins:
mango chunks, cucumber,
zucchini, coconut oil or milk.
Ice, amount as desired.
Customize the ingredients to your
taste.
Directions:
Put everything in a blender or food
processor and top it off with ice.
Blend until smooth and serve in
small amounts.
May and June Birthdays
May
3-Myrtle McKee, Old Lantern
4-Carla Payne, FT High Hope
9-Deborah Shelton, PT Cherokee
11-Charles Whittington, Duvall
13-Sally Johnson, PT Paul
16-Michelle Lindsey, Snapfinger
16-Alice Tiner, Residential Services
Associate Director
18-Pearlina Foreman, FT Stokes
18-Keisha Lard, PT Stone Mountain
22-Tamara Wyse, Stokes
Page 2
25-Gavin Lewis, PT Hess
27-Fred Matthews, Jasper
28-Pamela Coombs, PT Corbit Walker
29-Timothy Peters, Duvall
30-Denise Williams, Samaria
June
5-Angie Mattox, Day
6-Reba Tramble, FT Pedigo
7-Rebekah Edmonds, Activities Director/
Chaplain
10-Dudley Parkman, Hess Residential
Services Coordinator
11-Alicia Derrickson, FT Samaria
13-Rosa Scott, PT Duvall
14-Lisa Storey, Corbit Walker
20-Sandra Green, PT Jasper
22-Pamela Bowman, PT Corbit Walker
22-Alexis Chrispen, PT Duvall
29-Lisa Fleeton, PT Chatham
29-Andy Taylor, Paul
30-David Harvill, Appalachee
30-John Smith, Briarlake
The Helping Hand Newsletter
Remembering Jason
Our DDM family was saddened by the passing of long-time Hess Home
Resident Jason Sundy. Jason and the guys at the Hess Home were like family, and
Jason’s parents, Roger and Neomia Sundy, hosted the Hess Home guys in their
home on many occasions. His memorial service was held at Oakhurst Baptist
Church in Decatur, where Jason was a member.
Jason is pictured at left at a Gwinnett Braves Game with DDM residents
and staff. The three photos below were taken at Camp Twin Lakes Residents’
Retreat in Rutledge, GA. Left, Jason, Old Lantern Resident Jeff Geer, and
Briarlake Resident John Smith. Center, Jason and his dad, Roger. Right, Jason and
Residential Services Coordinator Matt Pogue.
He will be sorely missed by his family, his church family, and all of
us at DDM! Please remember Jason’s family and friends during this time.
2015 Resident Council
Above left, President Desmond Ridehalgh! Above right, left-right: Margaret Stapleton from Pedigo Home; Jessica
McFarland from Day Home; Desmond from Jasper Home; Holly Hackley from Stone Mountain Home; Myrtle
McKee from Old Lantern Home; Michael Champion from Briarlake Home.
Page 3
The Helping Hand Newsletter
Cherokee On The Go
Top left and center, the Cherokee guys Terry Heath, Lee Abercrombie,
D.C. Dewberry, and Robert Goss, along with Residential Services
Coordinator Matt Pogue enjoyed visiting the College Football Hall of
Fame. Top right, Terry Heath participated in a Maundy Thursday Service.
Above left and center, the guys enjoyed a meal at the Varsity before the
Hawks game. Immediate right, they are pictured at the Hawks game with
the brand new Dominique Wilkins statue. Photos below were taken at the
Hawks game.
Page 4
The Helping Hand Newsletter
Corbit Walker Activities
Residential Services Coordinator Amanda Pelot and the Corbit Walker ladies enjoyed a special dinner out together.
Left photo, clockwise: Amanda, Lisa Storey, Diana Bright, and Connie Barker. Center photo, Connie enjoys dinner
at Mexican restaurant, her favorite kind of food. Right photo, Diana loves working puzzles!
Farewell Luncheons for Two Central Office Employees
Business Administrator/Human Resource Director Bob Cash was honored in March at a staff luncheon at Firenze.
Bob has taken a job with another company, and was given a watch to remember his 16 years of service at DDM.
Executive Assistant to the President/CEO Camille Naff was also honored in March at a retirement luncheon at
Ippolito’s, after 8 years of service at DDM. She was given a gift card to Josephine’s, her favorite gift shop. Bob and
Camille will both be missed!
DDM Staff Anniversaries
May 1, David Patterson, Associate Director of Operations/IT Specialist, 6 years
May 2, Loria Wilson, Samaria PT Resident Companion, 1 year
May 18, Linda Marvicsin, Pedigo PT Home Manager, 15 years
May 21, Sherry Mays, Residential Financial Specialist, 5 years
May 25, Shellie Parkman, Wooten FT Resident Companion, 3 years
June 1, William Neal, President/CEO, 10 years
June 6, Christine Harvey, Snapfinger PT Home Manager, 10 years
June 14, Nicole Kelley, Appalachee Residential Services Coordinator, 5 years
June 22, Donna Bowman, Day PT Home Manager, 3 years
Page 5
The Helping Hand Newsletter
Pedigo and Appalachee Group Outings
Pedigo and Appalachee Homes had fun at Super Saturday at Trinity
on the Hill United Methodist Church in Augusta. Special guest for
the event was none other than Elvis, pictured above with Appalachee
guys David Harvill and James Treadwell, Pedigo ladies Margaret
Stapleton and Beverly Kitchens, and DDM staff. Immediate right,
David enjoyed Elvis and clapped along with him. Above right, at
First Baptist of Augusta, left-right: Margaret, James, Beverly, David,
and Ruth Blanchard.
Tornadoes are one of nature's most powerful and destructive forces. Here's some advice on how
to prepare for a tornado and what to do if you're caught in a twister's path.
Safety Tips and Quick Facts
• Prepare for tornadoes by gathering emergency supplies including food, water, medications,
batteries, flashlights, important documents, road maps, and a full tank of gasoline.
 When a tornado approaches, anyone in its path should take shelter indoors—preferably in a
basement or an interior first-floor room or hallway.
 Avoid windows and seek additional protection by getting underneath large, solid pieces of
furniture.
 Avoid automobiles and mobile homes, which provide almost no protection from tornadoes.
 Those caught outside should lie flat in a depression or on other low ground and wait for the
storm to pass.
 Peak tornado season in the southern states is March through May; in the northern states, it is
late spring through early summer.
 Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 pm and 9 pm, but can occur at any time.
 The average forward speed of a tornado is 30 mph, but may vary from stationary to 70 mph.
 The average tornado moves Southwest to Northeast, but tornadoes have been known to move
in any direction.
Page 6
The Helping Hand Newsletter
Fun in Jasper
Top row, the guys with their Easter buckets.
Center photo, l-r: Ryan Austin, Fred Matthews,
Desmond Ridehalgh. Second row, first two
photos, Rayn and Fred participated in Special
Olympics Volleyball. Third and fourth photos,
Ryan is licking a beater and Fred is licking the
spatula from Desmond’s cake batter. Third
row, first photo, Desmond is getting ready to
bake his cake. I’m sure it will be delicious!
Immediate left, Resident Companion Sandra
Green and Resident Aaron Bearden are getting
their workout accomplished.
Page 7
The Helping Hand Newsletter
Happy St. Patrick’s Day...
from Wooten and Chatham Homes!
Group photos below, l-r: Tracy
Moon, Jon Godfrey, Nick Ihnen,
Ginny Kemp, and Davis Calhoun.
Immediate left, Jon and Tracy.
Immediate right, Davis, Ginny, and
Chatham Home Manager Ralph
Hickey.
Instructions on LIFE
Give people more than they expect, and do it cheerfully.
Don’t judge people by their relatives.
Talk slowly, but think quickly.
When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.
Remember the three R’s: Respect for self, Respect for others, Responsibility for all your actions.
Smile when answering the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
Open your arms to change, but don’t let go of your values.
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
Read more books and watch less TV.
In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don’t bring up the past.
Mind your own business.
When you say, “I’m sorry,” look the other person in the eye.
Don’t let a little dispute ruin a great friendship.
When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a blessing.
Page 8
The Helping Hand Newsletter
Pedigo Home and Appalachee Home
Top left, the Pedigo ladies enjoyed a meal out at Taylor’s Bar-B-Q. Pictured left to right: Jane Hill, Beverly
Kitchens, Margaret Stapleton, and Ruth Blanchard. Top center: Beverly at Piney Grove Baptist Church’s
Senior Night. Top right, Ruth enjoying ice cream and cookies. Second row, center and right photos, Ruth
and Jane are taking care of business at the bank.
Above left photo, Appalachee Resident James Treadwell looks ready to test out the drum set. Bottom
row, left photo, James is excited about his birthday cake. Center photo, David Harvill is enjoying breakfast
at IHOP. Right photo, David is enjoying a hot beverage at home. If his smile is any indication, it must be
good!
Page 9
The Helping Hand Newsletter
Briarlake and Stokes Events
Stokes Resident Stacie Darnell celebrated her birthday with a pizza party with her friends from Stokes and Briarlake
Homes. Top row, left: Stacie and John Athens; center, Brian Haynes and Colleen Campbell; right, Jeri Wilensky and
Michael Champion. Second row, left, John Smith and Tamara Wyse. Second row, center, John Athens and John
Smith attended a hockey game. Second row, right, John Athens also celebrated his birthday with friends from
Briarlake and Stokes Home. Pictured with John, is John Smith, Jeri Wilensky, and Michael Champion.
Some Great Uses for Your Superfood-Avocados
Avocado is a versatile little fruit that’s rich in fiber, potassium, and some very good fats. Put the smooth and
buttery avocado to work in your life.
Conditioner: Mash one avocado and combine it with a little olive oil or coconut oil and rub it through your hair.
Rinse after about 30 minutes for deep conditioning that will nourish both hair and scalp, and let your locks shine.
Face cleansing: Make a mask using an avocado and 1 tsp. of honey for dry skin or 1 tsp. of lemon juice for oily
skin. Apply it to your face while avoiding your eyes. Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes and then rinse.
Exfoliator: Why not exfoliate a little while you cleanse? Add 2 tbsp. of oatmeal and 1 tbsp. of olive oil to the
recipe above. Rub your face down, and then rinse the dead skin cells, oil, and grime away.
Eye Therapy: Got bags under your eyes? Try a slice of chilled avocado. The oils replenish and hydrate skin so it
looks firm, full, and healthy.
Grilled: Yes, you can grill avocado. Slice it in half, remove the pit, dash it with salt, and place the flat side on the
grill. Once it has some nice grill marks, remove it, and add it to a salad or whatever you might enjoy. The grill
makes avocado soft, buttery, and delicious.
Spread: Mash an avocado and give it a pinch of salt and pepper. It makes a wonderful spread on just about
anything. Use in place of mayo on sandwiches or in place of butter, measure for measure. You get the same
delicious fatty flavor while using healthier plant-based fats.
Pasta addition: A few cubes of avocado add a delicate and mellow flavor to almost any pasta dish.
Dressing: Make an amazing alternative to ranch that you can drizzle over salad or use as a dip for your veggies.
Take one avocado, pitted and peeled, and blend it with 1/2 c. extra-virgin olive oil, 2-3 tbsp. lime juice, the juice of
one orange, 1 clove garlic, a handful of fresh cilantro, 1/2 tsp. sea salt, and a dash of pepper and cumin.
Pudding: Blend one medium avocado with 3 tbsp. cacao powder, 1 tbsp. vanilla extract, 1/4 c. honey, and 1/4 tsp.
salt until smooth. Then, enjoy every chocolaty bite!
Page 10
The Helping Hand Newsletter
Good Times at Paul Home
Top left, Timothy Duggan is all dressed up for
prom, April 18. Top, center and right, the
guys participated in a DIGS talent show. Top
center, Andy Taylor. Top right, Andy, Cory
Schroeder, seated, and Timothy, with raised
arms. Second row, Paul home met with Berry
College students for the “Berry Friends Meet
and Greet” at Johnny’s Pizza in Rome. Second
row left, l-r, Andy and Michael Paul. Second
row right, far right, Timothy. Immediate left,
Cory enjoyed celebrating his birthday with his
mom, dad, aunt, uncle, and friends from the
Paul Home! Happy birthday, Cory!
Page 11
The Helping Hand Newsletter
Featured Residents’ Rights
DDM, Inc.
6320 Amherst Court
Norcross, GA 30092

Residents have the right to privacy.

Residents have the right to socialize with friends, family, and others in
the community and take part in community activities.
1-888-340-5820 toll free
Email [email protected]
“Like” us on Facebook!
REFERRAL BONUS ANNOUNCEMENT

Helping Others Help
Themselves
We’re on the Web!
www.ddmga.org
A $150 Referral Bonus shall be given to the DDM staff member who refers
a full-time or part-time employee. Any 2014 referrals in process will be paid
at the 2014 rate.
Requirements:
 The person making application MUST list the DDM employee’s name on
the original application at the point of application submission.
 The person who makes application MUST be referred directly from an
active DDM employee.
 After six months of satisfactory service with DDM, the bonus will be paid to
the DDM staff member for the new employee (one bonus for either
individual or couple).
DDM NEEDS LIST:

Wii consoles with remotes for DDM homes – Wii games help with residents’ exercise and activities.
 Donations for the LEAP Fund – Life Enrichment and Activities Program – designated for medical and
dental expenses of residents (growing and urgent need!)
 MAC computer for central office
 Small emergency generators for DDM homes for use during power outages — these would keep refrigerators
or medical equipment, such as CPAP machines, operating.
RESIDENTIAL SERVICES STAFF
For those staff who have recently been hired, please
forward any receipts from your criminal background
check, TB Test, or CPR/First Aid training, to
Human Resources, and you will be reimbursed after
6 months of employment. If you have any questions,
contact HR directly.
Welcome new Residential Services staff:
Carolyn Hendricks, Day Residential Services
Coordinator; Sade Carter, Hess PT Home Manager;
Edith Brathwait-Joseph, Stokes PT Home Manager;
Nileta Malcolm, Stokes FT Home Manager; Brandye
Manns, Stone Mountain PT Home Manager; Deja
Daniel, Wooten PT Resident Companion.
Please pray for DDM staff and trustees who
have family members with health concerns.
Calendar of Events
May 1- Trustee Meeting
May 2- Belk Charity Day Sale benefitting DDM
May 10- Mother’s Day
May 14- Gwinnett Braves Game and Lunch for
Residents and Staff
May 25- Memorial Day
June 14- Flag Day
June 21- Father’s Day
June 21- First Day of Summer