We’re Paying It Forward!

At Schell Brothers, we believe that one of the greatest benefits of being successful is the opportunity to give back.

We not only care about our customers, but we’re also passionate about our community and are eager to stay involved in community service activities and fundraisers. In 2006 alone, Schell Brothers and the Ocean Atlantic Companies gave over $250,000 and thousands of hours of volunteer work to support over 40 local events and charities. Below you’ll find just a few of the different ways we’ve enjoyed Paying It Forward.

Lewes Canalfront Park Project

The Lewes Canalfront Park project began in 1999 when citizens of Lewes joined together to raise funds to build a beautiful canalfront park on historical property that lies along the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. Ten years later, that dream has become a reality with the recent opening of the park.

Schell Brothers and the Schell family have played a vital role in the park since its conception, from monetary donations to volunteerism and ending with the entire Schell Brothers and Ocean Atlantic family coming together to construct the final portion of the park, with Chris and Preston Schell both hammering nails in the summer heat during the final days of construction.

Watch the incredible time-lapse video to see how the final portion of the project, the playground, came together in early August, 2009.

 

Milton Firefighter Appreciation

Schell Brothers held a barbecue for firefighters at Heritage Creek Aug. 7, 2009 in appreciation of the department’s work. Chris presented a plaque to Milton Fire Department Chief Lynn Rogers recognizing the volunteer organization for its exceptional service. He also announced the addition of a new Heritage Creek home model appropriately named The Milton. Read the Cape Gazette article

Habitat for Humanity – Volunteer Opportunity

Schell Brothers has been involved with the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity since the early days of the company. As part of the 2006 Blitz Build, Schell Brothers teamed up with other Delaware home builders to build three new Habitat homes in a lightning fast 5 days. We also organized the 1st Annual Sussex County Habitat for Humanity Golf Outing, with all proceeds donated the organization and have made several monetary donations over the years. In our most recent outreach, we donated brand new Wellborn cabinets to a local church building a new Habitat home in Seaford, Delaware.

Lower Delaware Autism Foundation

The Lower Delaware Autism Foundation (LDAF) is a non-profit organization that was formed in 2001 by a group of caring parents of children with autism. Tied by the common bonds created by struggling with the challenges of autism on a daily basis, this dedicated group of parents decided to help make programs, services, and resources available to children and individuals with autism and their families, caregivers, and educators in Sussex County, Delaware.

 

Schell Brothers became involved with the organization in 2007 when we identified a volunteer opportunity to became a major sponsor of the LDAF.

LDAF has a strong presence in our local community and beyond. Each year, we form stronger ties throughout the State and the disability community, working from a position of strength to help our families touched by autism.

LDAF diligently works toward a bigger and better future filled with hope and opportunity for individuals with autism. We are currently assessing how to assist individuals with autism as they transition from their school systems to life on their own. We are also working with our local legislators to address issues that impact the quality of life of individuals with autism.

Sussex County Land Trust

In addition to sponsoring many events and fundraisers for the Sussex County Land Trust, Preston Schell sits as Vice Chairman on the Board of Trustees, and long time Ocean Atlantic team member Wendy O. Baker is also President and CEO. For over 10 years now, Schell Brothers and the Ocean Atlantic Companies have played a major role in preserving land in Sussex County and have maintained a solid reputation for responsible land use.


Sussex Consortium

The Sussex Consortium is a public school, special education program operated in the Cape Henlopen School District and was created to meet the special needs of students with moderate to severe disabilities in Sussex County. Schell Brothers partnered with the Sussex Consortium in April of 2008 for a complete makeover of the school’s functional program apartment that is used to teach special education students everyday life skills, such as cooking, washing dishes, washing and drying clothes, and personal hygiene. Read the Cape Gazette article

From the Cape Gazette, April 9, 2008

http://www.capegazette.com/storiescurrent/200804/consortium040408.html

Business donations make Consortium apartment makeover a success

By Leah Hoenen
Cape Gazette staff

The Sussex Consortium could have been mistaken for the scene of a home-makeover show over spring break. In a week, the school’s functional program apartment was gutted, redesigned and rebuilt entirely with donated materials and volunteer hours.

“The best part about all this is the generosity of the community and the businesses and the fact that they’ve done all this work in five days,” said Jen Reynolds, an occupational therapist at the consortium.

As Reynolds walked over newly laid tile, she explained why it was time for a renovation. The kitchen and laundry room had been separated by a wall that cramped the kitchen, she said, making it difficult to give students working in the kitchen any independence.

“We are trying to teach our students to be as independent as possible and to follow directions. When it is crowded in here they can be overstimulated, and it becomes difficult for them to pay attention, so it can be hard for them to learn,” said Reynolds. The problems didn’t stop at a lack of counter space. There was no outside vent for the dryer. “The dryer was ventilated into a bucket of water, so it was always hot in here, and it was a fire hazard,” she said.

Part of the school’s education program includes teaching students everyday skills, such as cooking, washing dishes, washing and drying clothes, and personal hygiene. The apartment is where that instruction takes place.

Now, the former laundry area is a desk space for students and the washer and dryer are outside the apartment. The kitchen area is spacious, with plenty of room for students to work. Teachers and paraprofessionals will no longer have to crowd around their pupils.

And that extra space will be needed. The number of autistic students at the Sussex Consortium has more than doubled since 2002, said Assistant Principal Kelly Cannon. “We’re increasing each year, so we will grow into every nook and cranny we’ve created,” Cannon said.

“It will be great to see how we can teach life skills to our students in a more functional space,” said Reynolds.

The makeover started out with a donation from Bad Hair Day? owner Drexel Davison. Thinking it would be better to completely redo the apartment, Reynolds and fellow consortium teacher Pam Graves went to construction company Schell Brothers for some help.

“Schell Brothers made this happen. They organized the subcontractors and all the work. As soon as they presented our idea to these subcontractors, it was amazing how many people were willing to help,” said Reynolds.

All the new appliances were donated by local businesses, as was the new furniture. Some of the high school students went to Wal-Mart with Reynolds to pick out new supplies for the kitchen.

“This project is a reflection of how good a community we have. A very generous community makes you want to work in that community,” said Sussex Consortium Assistant Principal Kelly Cannon.

The renovated apartment is similar to one that will be part of the new Cape Henlopen High School. Cannon said similar facilities at different sites will help the program spread out its students. The Consortium serves mainstreamed students attending Cape Henlopen High School and the Ninth Grade Campus as well as the Sussex Consortium building.

Cannon said there will probably be 50 consortium students attending the high school when the new building opens in 2010. And, thanks to increasing awareness of autism and better understanding of the condition, more students will attend the Consortium, he said.

The Sussex Consortium is part of the Delaware Autism Program. Some 150 autistic students attend the Lewes school along with 50 students with other disabilities.

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