Resource Development and Transportation Unit Presents All Abilities Crafts and Cheer

Estimated Reading Time: 3 Minutes

By: Amanda McGuire, RDTU Program Manager

For those who aren’t familiar IRC’s Resource Development and Transportation Unit (RDTU) under is responsible for developing all services provided to the individuals IRC serves, authorizes, and oversees all transportation services, oversees employment services, and creates DDS funded projects annually for unmet and ever growing disparity needs of our individuals. Many members of the unit have come from a background in this industry that involved more direct service with our consumers. However the nature of this unit means less direct contact with consumers, something the Program Manager of this unit especially misses.

However, as this unit works very closely with our vendors, for the last two years they have been able to give a little back to the vendors and spend time with the consumers we miss interacting with on a regular basis. It started in 2024 with a visit to a day program, spending a day doing holiday crafts. Then after working closely with Sofia Benitez from 24 Hour Home Care, in her capacity as the Vendor Advisory Committee Chair, RDTU Program Manager chose to take the 2024 activity and create it on a larger scale. Sofia and 24 Hour Home Care collaborated with RDTU in creating the All Abilities Crafts and Cheer event on December 4, 2025. This event was hosted for IRC’s adult consumers as a fun outing with their day program and in total 143 consumers participated in the event, along with their staff. In addition to RDTU staff, more than 40 IRC staff volunteered their time to make this event a success.

As individuals entered they were greeted by the Grinch, and while the author of this blog knows his true identity, it will remain a secret to preserve the magic. But a special thank you must be given to IRC’s Program Administrator, CJ Cook. After a photo shoot with the Grinch, a hand painted Christmas tree was decorated with finger painted ornaments and names of the attendees. Then individuals had their choice of activities, including, decorating and stuffing stockings, various types of ornaments, picture frames, holiday cards, a coloring and painting station, and photo booth that was generously donated by our vendor Chasing Seven Dreams.

While our consumers and their staff enjoyed the festivities, they also had live music entertainment provided by a special musician, Peter McGuire.

For those that needed a break from the merry making, a holiday movie lounge area was set up. The individuals also enjoyed a delicious hot cocoa bar and pastries that were donated by our vendor Creating a Legacy. To accompany these treats, RDTU Program Manager, and her amazing mother donated home-made holiday cookies, which were eaten almost as soon as they were put on the plate.

The entire event could not be complete with out a very special guest appearance, in addition to the Grinch, two more special characters stopped by, Buddy the Elf and Santa himself. A special thank you to Josue Aravelo and Nguyen Vu who made this happen.

In summation, this was a very special and well-attended event that would not have been possible without the amazing RDTU staff, Sofia Benitez and 24 Hour Home Care, Chasing Seven Dreams, Creating a Legacy, CJ Cook, The McGuire family, Nguyen Vu, the Benitez-Arevalo family and our IRC staff volunteers. We truly appreciate the support!

RDTU and all of Santa’s Helpers will be back in 2026 for our 2^nd Annual All Abilities Craft and Cheer!