The Taylorville Kiwanis Club heard from the president and C-E-O of the manufacturing division of the Christian County Mental Health Association, during their weekly meeting Tuesday at the Taylorville Moose Lodge. 

Brent DeMichael has been leading that division of C-C-M-H-A, a non-profit organization, for many years, and spoke about the history of the Association dating back to 1971.  The manufacturing division provides around 80 developmentally disabled people, meaningful jobs making plywood reels used by wire manufacturers and distributors.

Those sales provide jobs for developmentally disabled people who work at the plant.  

DeMichael added that C-C-M-H-A also provides developmentally disabled adults, group homes at 3 different Taylorville locations, helping them function.  

He said the biggest challenge in helping developmentally disabled people, is government bureaucracy in getting funding to provide them the specialized services they need. 

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.  Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at the Taylorville Moose Lodge.  For information on the club, go to taylorvillekiwanis.com.