Bill Stringer is a man who recently came out of early-retirement feeling he had one more success story in his life. Stringer has been on the job for barely a month and has found new and gratifying meaning to his life. Through the government program, Experience Works, Bill was placed with Texoma Community Center (TCC) at the Day Habilitation site, one of the many services TCC’s mission provides to the Texoma area.
“I have learned to ‘stop and smell the roses’ again. I walk into the Day Hab site each day and have found I leave the frantic world, its worries and stresses behind me,” begins Stringer.
“It took less than two days for the nearly 100-enrolled developmentally disadvantaged clients to learn my name. From the moment I enter the door, I hear ‘Hi, Bill' or ‘Bill’s here' and get a handshake or pat on the back. The looks of sincerity on the clients’ faces surpasses anything I have ever experienced in the work world,” said Stringer.
“What do I mean when I say I am beginning to ‘stop and smell the roses’? I have literally slowed my driving speed down and take more notice of the things around me. I am more patient at traffic lights or waiting in line at the store. I am beginning to re-connect with old friends. The slower pace is even affecting my health in a positive way. Just last week I had a doctor’s visit and a full lab-panel was done. My blood pressure was down and my cholesterol levels were the best they have been in a long time. I don’t usually use clichés, but I feel that I am truly getting more than I am giving. Good memories at Day Hab are created every day, which I take home with me in the evening and I smile,” continues Stringer.
Stringer’s life has led him down varied professional avenues. He worked in the for-profit world in hotel management for 20 years, and had an interior design firm for a number of years. For the past 30-plus years, he has worked in the non-profit world in senior management or executive director positions in the Texoma area with drug/alcohol; HIV/AIDS and homeless populations; and has done state-wide private consulting work.
“I have found the staff at Day Hab to be excellent. Our clients have intellectual and developmental delays. Each one of them is treated as a person and not a number, and the staff members are attuned to each individual and their needs. The staff is constantly watching and monitoring each person to help them achieve their individual goals. I am so very impressed with the clients’ bravery and determination in facing their challenges. Just yesterday I worked with a young man on very basic math skills. He worked so hard, and when he did not finish the task during the class time, he came to me later asking if I would help him finish. Together we sat down and he completed the assignment. He was so proud he went around showing off his success. Even with some failure, they try again and again. I think in our fast-paced world we grow cold to others’ needs, but being here has shown me that these clients’ struggles are real, and more importantly, they persevere,” said Stringer.
TCC’s Day Hab program assists with acquiring, retaining or improving self-help, socialization, and adaptive skills necessary to live successfully in the community and to participate in home and community life for persons with intellectual and developmental delays. The program is a group setting that is open six hours a day, five days a week and located in Denison.
“We have structured activities that the clients truly enjoy. Most recently, they made decorations for their annual Valentine’s dance and are now working on St. Patrick’s Day decorations. The Valentine’s dinner and dance was a great success, and for me, emotionally moving. The staff worked hard to make sure the clients and their guests had a wonderful time,” said Stringer.
“Working as long as I have for non-profits, I have yet to find an agency with enough funding, which directly impacts having a sufficient number of paid staff, as any well-managed agency prioritizes funds to the direct care ofits clients and mission. This is where the extreme importance of volunteers is vital, both in operations and fundraising. Volunteers provide added value by being informed and reducing stigma by educating their family and friends. Day Hab can always utilize community members to come in and volunteer their talents and join the the Volunteer Services Council. Anyone wanting information about volunteer opportunities at TCC is invited to call 903-957-4865,”ends Stringer.
As mentioned earlier in this story, Stringer is employed by Experience Works. Experience Works is a national, charitable community based organization which helps low-income seniors, with multiple barriers to employment, get the training they need to find good jobs in their local communities.