OREGON — Heavy rains that flooded many properties in the region during a storm deluge in July, caused some major damage to an important non-profit organization that helps developmentally challenged residents from all around the county.
The Village of Progress was hit particularly hard by the flood waters and sustained a great deal of damage throughout its 38,000 square foot facility, located on Pines Road in Oregon.
Executive director Brion Brooks explained although Village of Progress has flood insurance, many contents were not covered, including the wooden furniture and file cabinets that have to be replaced.

Brooks and the rest of the VOP staff and consumers got some welcome news recently when the Rochelle Area Community Foundation presented them with a $5,000 grant check to help with replacing some of the damaged equipment.
“The RACF grant along with the contributions from others have helped a great deal,” Brooks said. “This helps us to re-equip some of the building, especially the administration and supervisor office near the workshop.”
For many decades, the Village of Progress has offered programs that develop work and social skills to adults with developmental disabilities, and serves residents in every town of Ogle County.
RACF executive director Kim Montgomery received a letter of appeal from Brooks, explaining the situation asking for possible financial help. The Rochelle-based foundation was able to donate the funds, in line with its mission to provide grants for a variety of purposes that are charitable and improve the communities and quality of life for residents in the area.
“They (VOP) had suffered some really catastrophic damage to the facility and we wanted to do something to help them out,” Kim Montgomery, executive director for RACF explained. “They lost furniture and computers… volunteers came in and tore out the drywall. The offices, which were nice to begin with, all have to be redone. They opened as quickly as they could, and are now repairing it gradually. They didn’t want to upset the people they serve.”