WARSAW — In 1954, Cardinal Services Inc. of Indiana was established as a place for individuals with developmental delays to grow and thrive.

Today, Cardinal Services, Warsaw, offers day services, residential living, community living, a nursing home program and career links for adults with developmental delays. Beyond that, it also has services for children and families, including Head Start; Women, Infants and Children; and Healthy Families.

Day services are designed to give participants a meaningful day filled with activities, social interaction, therapy and even work.

Residential living programs include group homes with Cardinal Services staff members on site, while community living is designed for those who are able to live more independently. The nursing home program sends staff members two to three times per week to spend time with people with developmental delays and to take them out into the community.

Cardinal Services also offers Career Links, designed to help adults with disabilities find jobs.

Of course, keeping these programs going requires help from the community. A donation to Cardinal Center can go a long way, whether that means placing an adult in a job or providing new parents with answers they may need to parenting questions.

Volunteers are also vital. Boxell asks that volunteers be age 16 or older to work with an adult and at least age 14 to volunteer with  children, including things like reading with Head Start preschoolers. Those interested in volunteering with community living residents need to be at least age 21.

There are no required number of volunteer hours, though anyone wishing to put in more than 12 hours needs to go through an orientation.

“To just do a few hours, they don’t have to go through volunteer orientation,” Boxell said.

However, volunteers are invited just to give what time they have, whether it is a couple of hours per week to have coffee or a few minutes to play Uno or do a simple craft.

“Even for a half-hour, if somebody can come in and play checkers one day over their lunch break,” Boxell said.

Residents also enjoy having fans accompany them to the local bowling alley.

“They just want you to watch them go bowling and cheer for them,” Boxell said.

To learn more about Cardinal Services, including how to make a donation, click here.