MANSFIELD — Angela Eisaman thought slippery roads, spitting snow and a single-digit windchill might deter people from driving up the gravel lane to a groundbreaking ceremony.
But as one of her board members put it, dedication knows no season.
“We have done everything that we can do to get to this point, and we aren’t stopping now,” said Eisaman, the founder of Taking Root Farms.
Board members, local officials, clients and others supporters gathered at Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center Thursday afternoon.
This spring, Taking Root Farms will begin construction of a $2 million facility to serve adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The non-profit organization has signed a 50-year lease for six acres of land at Raemelton Therapeutic Equestrian Center, which also serves individuals with disabilities.
Taking Root Farms will offer adult day services using a rural farm model. According to the organization’s website, programming will be designed to provide participants with meaningful opportunities for work, recreation, relationship-building and life skills development.
The main facility will be 5,000 square-foot house a lounge, a kitchen, clinic, mudroom and reception area. It will also include rooms with equipment designed for improving gross motor and fine motor skills.
On the adjacent farmland, clients will be able to grow vegetables, care for animals and explore their own interests.
Taking Root Farms launched its Field of Dreams campaign earlier this year, with a goal of $2.5 million.
According to Eisaman, the new building will cost around $1.9 million. The rest of the funds will be used for things like walking trails, accessibility upgrades, establishing a small animal programs, raised garden beds and hoop houses for growing plants.
The organization has raised $2.3 million thus far and recently topped the leaderboard for most dollars raised by a small organization during Richland Gives, brining in a total of more than $43,000.
Taking Root Farms will offer full-day programming five days a week
Eisaman and another mom were inspired to found Taking Root Farms to provide opportunities for their own adult children.
There are few employment opportunities for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, so most either stay at home or spend their time at an urban day center.
But Eisaman knew her son, Mitch, would prefer to go somewhere that allowed for plenty of movement and time outdoors.
“Taking Root Farms was designed to provide an additional choice to individuals with intellectual disabilities,” she said.
“There’s a lot of things available when you’re in school, but once that bus stops coming, there’s not a lot.”
Taking Root Farms was registered as a non-profit in 2015. Since then, its board has been fundraising and hosting events with special needs.
During a brief address on Thursday, Eisaman thanked her mentors, donors and board for their support. The Richland County Foundation and Milliron Family Foundation each contributed $500,000.
“This is not a one-man show. This is a board-directed project. This is community driven,” she said.
Once the building is complete, Taking Root Farms will offer full-day programming five days a week, serving between 20 and 25 adults each day.
In the meantime, the organization has started offering clients regular outings. Driver Ashley Billotte picks clients up at home and drops them off at the end of the day, typically around four times a month.
“We’ve been to places like COSI, concerts, bowling, out to eat,” she said. “We typically have lunch or dinner together, and then we take everybody back home.”
“It gives our individuals an opportunity to be out with the community,” she added. “We talk to community members. It gives the community a chance to learn more about us, to see our guys and to not be afraid to approach us. We just have great time.”
Billotte said she’s looking forward to watching her clients experience countless new opportunities when Taking Root Farms is up and running full-time.
“We’ve had so much excitement in the van when we talk about things that we’re having here,” she said. “I can’t wait to see it in action. I’m so excited for these guys.”
