Agency is poised to serve those in need in the Hartington area

HARTINGTON — A grassroots effort by families to establish more service options for their loved ones with disabilities led to the expansion of an agency into the Hartington area.

Mosaic, an agency that supports individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, opened the location in Hartington earlier this year at 311 N. Broadway St. and are open from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. most days.

Two full-time staff are currently providing services for six individuals at the Hartington location.

Individuals can participate in its community inclusion program where they are out in the community during the day with supportive employment, whether that’s wiping down tables at a restaurant or putting away books at a library, said Traci Vauble, community relations director at Mosaic’s Norfolk office.

“These individuals are people too and they deserve every opportunity. They have the same desires and wishes that we do. We strive to create those opportunities where they can live their best life,” she said.

The agency would like to partner with as many local businesses as possible to provide job opportunities or job skills development, said Josh Stoddard, interim executive director at Mosaic’s Norfolk office.

The Hartington office also offers an in-home residential program where Mosaic staff help individuals in their homes with basic life skills.

The COVID-19 pandemic has put a damper on volunteer opportunities for community members to be involved with the agency but Stoddard said hopefully there will be more opportunities in the spring.

“As we get through the pandemic and after winter time, hopefully we’ll be out of the woods,” he said.

Before opening the office, churches in both Hartington and Coleridge welcomed them into their respective communities by offering a space for meetings and classes, and Stoddard said the agency is grateful to have overwhelming community support.

Mosaic was started in 1913 in the small Nebraska town of Axtell and in its 108 years has expanded to serve more than 5,000 people in 750 communities in 13 different states, Stoddard said.

He’s excited to count Hartington as one of those communities where Mosaic services are offered.

“Our mission is expanding and growing and as we get the word out, we continue to grow and expand even more,” he said.

Stay in the know!

To get news alerts on your cell phone, get the Cedar County News app in the ITunes store or  in the Google Play Store.