Mission San Rafael partners with Marin Center for Independent Living

What fun! With the best weather so far this year, a group of 21 set off with the Angel Island Ferry Company for an adventure on the The Bay. The group consisted of clients of the Marin Center for Independent Living (of San Rafael) as well as a few staff members.

Since 1979 MCIL’s mission has been to “assist persons with all types of disabilities to achieve their maximum level of sustainable independence as contributing, responsible and equal participants in society.”

With tickets provided by the Rotary Club of Mission San Rafael and snacks provided by MCIL, it was truly a joint venture and a special treat for all on board.

The 90-minute cruise took us from the Tiburon docks up and down the Belvedere peninsula and finally around Richardson Bay past the beautiful marinas in Sausalito.

There is no doubt that the evening’s outing touched everyone equally --- we were awed by the natural beauty, thankful for the glorious weather and amazed at how the seagulls practically ate food right out of our outstretched hands!

Anyone interested in learning more about MCIL and the incredibly necessary work they do, can contact them at (415) 459-6245.

As with all important projects, our work at the Senior Access Friendship Garden involved multiple meetings that started many months ago.   The project morphed from a full out overhead pergola (which quickly became too complicated for everyone involved) to a simpler (but more efficient) final .   To honor their clients ~~ seniors with memory loss ~~  the Senior Access staff asked for 2 things:   shade so their clients could use the patio and a way for the staff and clients to work with live plants in a therapeutic garden.

Members of the Mission San Rafael Community Service Team worked together to create just the right thing:  beautiful shade umbrellas to fit the existing patio furniture and four large one-of-a-kind redwood planter boxes on wheels, designed and built by Pablo Castro of Marin Hardwood Floor Center and David Shawn of Miconi Tile & Marble.  As the photos show, it was a team effort with the additional expert help of Michael Green, Keith Marsh & Susanne Karch (MSRR members).

We are proud be able to support Senior Access in the work they do to help deserving families during a very difficult time.  Unfortunately, too many of us are facing these challenges every day and Marin is lucky to have Senior Access on our side.

With much gratitude we thank Golden State Lumber, Jackson's Hardware and American Soils -- all located in San Rafael -- who so generously gave us deep discounts, enabling us to finish this project within our tight budget.  Thank you for your kindness in helping us help others!!